ms^^ 






^Vi^ 






B\ 



I HISTORY OF SPENCER 

^1 



© 



FROM ITS 



EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR 1841, 



INCLUDING A BRIEF SKETCH OF 



^ 



LEICESTER, 



TO THE YEAR 1753. 



I 



BY JAMES DRAPER. 



" We wish to rescue the past from being forgotten, and to give honor to whom 
honor is due." 



WORCESTER: 

SPOONER AND ROWLAND, PRINTERS, 

18 4 1. 



^ 



Mil 



— WM 



HISTORY OF SPENCER 



FROM ITS 



EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR 1841, 



INCLUDING A BRIEF SKETCH OF 



LEICESTER, 



TO THE YEAR 1753. 



BY JAMES DRAPER. 



" We wish to rescue the past from being forgotten, and to give honor to whom 
honor is due." 



WORCESTER: 

SPOONER AND ROWLAND, PRINTERS. 

184 1. 



/ 



PREFACE. 



It cannot be expected, in the History of a town situated 
in the interior, like Spencer, that many facts or incidents 
would have happened, connected with its earliest settle- 
ment, and but few events in the succeeding stages of its 
existence, which would excite much interest in the general 
reader, and much less could this be expected of any thing 
relative to the present state of the town, or its inhabitants. 
It may, however, lay some claims to antiquity, by being 
once, a component part of the town of Leicester, but the 
annals of its earliest period can exhibit no details of bloody 
conflicts with the Indian, nor can it boast of having pro- 
duced any great and illustrious characters, either in peace 
or war. No exciting or interesting details of this kind, 
will form any part of this history. 

These pages are the humble effort of a native citizen of 
Spencer, and have been especially prepared for the benefit 
and gratification of his fellow citizens. The compiler 
makes no pretension to the character of an accomplished 
writer, and indeed the execution of such a work does not 
require much talent, or literary acquirements. All that is 
necessary, and all that may be expected, is a faithful de- 



Vi" 



!▼ PREFACE. 

tail of names, dates, facts, incidents and events, such as 
have occurred with little variation, in most of the towns 
in New England. The brief sketches, and genealogies of 
families, will undoubtedly be dull and even tedious to 
many, while others, and perhaps most of the native inhab- 
itants, will esteem this the most valuable part of the work. 
However satisfactory, or acceptable this may prove, or 
however it may be esteemed, it has cost a great deal of 
time and labor, indeed so much, that had it been known 
and realized at the commencement, it would have been 
abandoned before it was undertaken. The writer has 
aimed at the truth, and every statement and fact of any 
importance, may be strictly relied upon. For materials, 
access has been had to the county records of Suffolk, Mid- 
dlesex and Worcester ; to the Council and Legislative re- 
cords of the state ; to histories of other towns ; to the 
town, church and proprietors' records of Leciester and 
Spencer ; to Magazines, old files of Newspapers, and oc- 
casional sermons ; to ancient manuscripts, deeds, and other 
authentic documents ; to the memories of aged people ; and 
even the tombstones have furnished sources of informa- 
tion, from which something has been gleaned. In the 
hope that it may be of some benefit, and be acceptable to 
the parents and children of his native town, the author 
cheerfully submits it to their candor and intelligence. 

CORRECTIONS. 

Page 95, line 7 from top, for come read ensuei 
100, 17 from top, for Tanner read Tansur. 
119, II from top, for Eliza read Elizabeth. 
136, 3 from top, for to read from. 



INDEX. 



Accidents by fire, page 62, 63. 
Act to prevent monopoly, 39. 
Adams, David, 114. 
Allen, Daniel, 14. 
David, 114. 



Baldwin, Asa, 36, 131. 

Joseph, 126, 138. 

David, 131. 
Ball, Eleazer, Dea., 137. 
Baptists, 103. 
Barnes, David, 142. 
Barton, Joshua, 116. 
Bemis, family of, 105. 
Bemis, Samuel, 82, 106, 

Samuel, Jun., 106. 

Edmund, 107. 

William, 108. 

Joshua, 109. 

Nathaniel, 108. 

Jonas, 109. 

Dexter, 146. 



A. 

Allen, Israel, 143. 
Aged persons, 150. 
Andrews, William S. 157. 
Aspomsok, Asnebumskit, 10. 
Assessors, 152. 

B. 

Bigelow, Joseph, 136. 

Bisco, John, 43, 45, 48, 52, 141. 
Abijah, 145. 

Boundaries of Spencer, 9, 19. 

Boundaries of Leicester and Spen- 
cer, 18. 

Bounty of rattlesnakes, &c. 60, 61. 

Brad hurst, Ralf, 13, 14. 

Bridge, Thomas, 125. 

Bridges, David, 131. 

Bright, Henry, 145. 

Bunker Hill, battle of, 37. 

Burden, Asa, 143. 

Burgoyne, General, 40. 

Business, 73. 

Burial place, 104. 



Capen, family of, 117. 

Samuel, 117, 

Timothy, 118. 

James, 118. 
Census, 32. 

Chandler, John, 14, 15, 18. 
Church established, 85. 
Civil History of Leicester, 19. 
Civil History of Spencer, 33, 
Clark, John, 14, 

Mathias, 125. 



Convention at Leicester, 50. 
Concord, skirmish at, 37. 
Confederation, 41. 
Cornvvallis surrendered, 46, 
Courts stopped, 51. 
Courts oppressive, 50, 51, 
Constitution of Massachusetts, 44, 

62. 
Crage, Nathan, 38, 
Cranson, Elisha, 130. 
Crosby Stephen, 92. 



VI 



INDEX. 



Committee of correspondence, 14G. 
Converse, Luke, 139. 
Congress at Salem, 35. 

At Cambridge. 35. 

At Watertown, 35. 
Convention at Worcester, 35, 43, 
49. 

At Concord, 43. 



Cunningham, Nathaniel, 24, S3, 

113. 
Cunningham, family of, 112. 
Robert, 112. 
John, 112. 
Curtis, Jonathan, 13, 14. 
John, 113. 



Davenport, Addington, 14. 
Davis John, 157. 
Denney, Thomas, 34, 3.5. 
Depreciation of the currency, 43. 
Description of Spencer in 1788, 53. 
Draper, family of, 123. 

Richard, 13, 14. 

Thomas, 123. 

James, 4th, 124. 

Joshua, 124. 



Earthquakes in New England, GO, 

61. 
Eaton, Joshua, 84, 125. 

Joshua, Jun. 146. 

John Elliot, 145 



Flagg, .Tohn, 130. 

Samuel, 140. 



Gale, Henry, 53. 

Garni in, Benjamin, 13, 14. 

Gardner, Thomas, 13, 14. 

Henrv, 36. 
Garfield, Samuel, 128. 
Gates, Oldham, 126. 
Gleazen, Benjamin, 142. 
Goodenow, Cornelius, 130. 
Goddard, David, 82. 
Graham, John, 127. 



Hall, Willis, 49. 
Hathaway, James, 53. 
Henshavv, Joseph, 35. 
Hills, 69. 



Indian deed of Leicester 

Spencer, 9. 
Indians, 21. 



D. 

Draper, David, 146. 
Double dating, 12. 
Drury, William, 130. 

Benjamin, 144. 
Dudley, Joseph, 10. 

Thomas, 10. 

Paul, 14. 

William, 15. 
Dummer, Jeremiah, 13, 14. 
William, 22. 

E. 

Ecclesiastical, 74. 
Elliot, John, 138. 

John, Jun., 146. 
Elliot, Richard Roswell, 146. 



F. 

First settlement of Spencer, 105. 
Frink, William, 144. 



G. 



and 



Greaton, John, 109. 

Grant, original of Leicester and 

Spencer, 9. 
Gray, Harrison, 30. 
Green, Benjamin, 137. 
Griffin, David, &c., 132. 
Grosvenor, Daniel, 90. 
Guilford, Jonas, 144. 

Jonas, Jun. 145. 
Nathan, 146. 

H. 

Hobbs, Warren, 146. 
Howe, Thomas, 14, 15. 
Hutchinson, Thomas, 14. 

William, 14, 15. 

I. 

Independence declared, 38. 
Insurrection of Shays, 47. 



INDEX 



Jeiiks, Isaac, 4S. 

Johnson Benjamin, 31, 127. 



Lamb, Joshua, Col. 13, 14. 

Jonas, 38. 
Lamb, family of, 109. 

Jonathan, 109. 

Jonathan, Jun. 110. 

Joshua, 110. 

John, 110. 
Lamond, Archibald, 113. 



J. 

Jones, Asa, 145. 

Justices of the Peace, 146. 

L. 

Lawyers, 157. 

Leicester, first settlement of, 15. 
Lexington, battle of, 37. 
Livermore, Joseph, 37, 140. 

Abijah, 53, 139. 

Moses, 133. 

David, 14a. 



Mason, Ebenezer, 37, 142. 
May, David, 52. 

William, 131. 
Meadows, 70, 72. 
Meetinghouses 84. 
Ministerial & school lands sold, CI. 
Miscellaneous items, 60. 



M. 

Minzee, Judge, 20. 
Minerals, 72. 
Moose pond, 17, 70. 
Morgan, Robert, 125. 
Muzzy, John, 43, 133. 
Nathan, 145. 



N. 



Newhall, Thomas, 20. 



Newhall, John, 122. 



Original 



O. 



u. 

;inal grant of Leicester and Ormes, John, 24, 111. 
Spencer, 9. James, 143. 



Packard, Levi, 98. 
Page, Nathaniel, 13, 14. 
Parish incorporated, 84. 
Parmenter, Nathaniel, 135. 
Parsons, Joseph, 20. 
David, 74. 
Parsonage, 98. 
Pensioners, 140. 
Physicians, 143. 
Pope, Gregory, 12. 

Joseph, 90. 

Joseph, Jun. 146. 
Ponds, 70. 



Queen Ann's war, 13. 



Read, John, 116. 
Revolution, 33. 
Rice, Peter, 38. 
Asher, 115. 



P. 

Post offices, 74. 
Potter, Cheney, 144. 
Property of our ancestors, 148. 
Prouty, David, Capt. 40. 
Prouty, family of, 118. 

Richard, 118. 

David, senior, 118. 

Jacob, 119. 

John, 119. 

Adam, 120. 

James, 120. 

Isaac, senior, 121. 

Q. 

Quoristers chosen, 100. 

R. 

Representatives. 154. 
Roads, 65. 

Robinson, Josiah, 123. 
Ruggles, Samuel, 13, 14. 



VUl 



INDEX. 



S. 



Schools, 63. 

Segar, Oliver, 123. 

Selectmen, 151. 

Settlement, first of Leicester, 15. 

Sewall, Samuel, 14. 

Shay's Insurrection, 47. 

Shirley, Governor, 24. 

Sinclair, William, 114. 

Slaves, 32. 

Smith, Moses, 12, 89. 

Snow storm, 61. 

Soil and productions, 72. 

Soldiers families provided for, 41, 

43. 
Spencer, boundaries of, 9, 19. 



Tea proscribed, 34. 
Topography, 69. 
Tories, 41. 
Town officers ia 1753, 31. 



Universalists, 104. 



Spencer, incorporation of, 31. 
Sprague, Anthony, 38, 
Thomas, 33. 
Stebbings, John, 16, 82, 116. 
Sternhold and Hopkins version, 

100—102. 
Stoddard, Jacob, 121. 
Stoughton, William, 12. 
Strawberry Hill, 16. 
Streams, 71. 
Steele, Thomas, 30, 31. 
Suits at court, number of, 50. 
Sumner, John, 50. 

Bradford, 157. 



T. 

Town Clerks, 153. 
Town Treasurers, 154. 
Toutaid, 9, 13. 
Tray, Philip, 10, 11. 

U. 

Upham, Jacob, 135. 



Valuation, 40, 148. 
Votes for Governor, 155. 



Wainwright, Francis, 14. 
Watson, Oliver, 38, 44, 49, 122. 
Watson, William, 146. 

John, 130. 
Warwille's travels, 56. 
Wealth of our ancestors, 148. 
White, John, 14. 

John, Lieut. 28, 129. 

Josiah, 40. 

Henry, 121. 
Whitefield, George, 88. 
Whitney, Joshua, 126. 



Young, David, 52. 



Version of Sternhold and Hopkins, 
100—102. 

W. 

Whittemore Jeremiah, 138. 
Wilson, family of, 110. 

James, 110. 

James Jun., 111. 

Benjamin, 111. 

Simeon, 129. 

Joseph, 111. 
Wood, Nathaniel, 19, 105. 
Worster, John, Dea. 28, 128. 
Wright, Edward, 136. 
Woodward, Robert, 126. 



Y. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



The town of Spencer is situated eleven miles a little 
to the South of West from the Depots of the several Rail 
Roads in Worcester. It is bounded East by the towns of 
Leicester and Paxton ; North by the towns of Rutland and 
Oakham ; West by the towns of North Brookfield and 
Brookfield, and South by the town of Charlton. 

Spencer was once a part of the town of Leicester. It 
will, therefore, be necessary to give a brief sketch of Lei- 
cester, including Spencer, until the Westerly half was in- 
corporated into a town by the name of Spencer in 3 753. 

ORIGINAL GRANT. 

More than one hundred and fifty years ago, a number 
of wealthy gentlemen belonging to Boston and its vicini- 
ty, were in the habit of purchasing large tracts of unsettled 
lands, of the Indians, in the interior of the state. Leices- 
ter, Hardwick and other tracts were purchased by them, 
in what is now, the county of Worcester. The following 
is a copy of the Indian deed of the town of Leicester to 
some of those gentlemen. 

" Know all men by these Presents, that we the heirs of 

Oraskaso, Sachem of a place called Toutaid, situate and 

lying near the now town of the English called Worcester, 

with all others which may under them belong unto the 

2 



10 H I S T O K Y O F S P E N C E R. 

same place aforesaid. These heirs being two women with 
their husbands newly married, which being byname call- 
ed Philip Tray with his wife Momokhiie, and John Wamp- 
scon and Waiwaynom his wife, for divers good causes and 
considerations us thereunto moving, and more especially 
for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds cur- 
rent money of New England to us in hand paid by Joshua 
Lamb, Nathaniel Page, Andrew Gardner, Benjamin Gam- 
lin, Benjamin Tucker, John Curtice, Richard Draper and 
Samuel Ruggles with Ralf Bradhurst of Roxbury in the 
county of Suffolk in New England, the receipt of which 
we do fully acknowledge ourselves to be fully satisfied 
and paid, have given, granted, bargained, sold, alienated, 
infeoffed and comfirmed, and by these presents do fully 
and absolutely, give, grant, bargain, sell, alienate, infeoff, 
and confirm unto the said Lamb, Page, Gardner, Gamlin, 
Tucker, Curtice, Draper, Ruggles and Bradhurst, their 
heirs and assigns, a certain tract of land containing by es- 
timation, eight miles square, situate, lying and being near 
Worcester aforesaid, abutting Southerly on the lands of 
Joseph Dudley, Esqr.,* lately purchased of the Indians, and 
Westerly, the most Southernmost corner upon a little 
pond called Paupokquamcok, then to a hill called Weka- 
pokotounow, and from thence to a little hill called Mos- 
sonachuds, and unto a great hill called Aspomsok, f and 

* Joseph Dudley, Esq., was a younger son of Thomas Dudley, who 
was first Lieut. Governor of Massachusetts in ]630. He was appointed 
by King William. Governor of Massachusetts in 1701. The lands re- 
ferred to is a gore about one mile wide lying South of Leicester and 
Spencer. So much of this gore as lay South of Spencer was a few 
years taxed to Spencer, and when Charlton was incorporated, became 
a part of that town. The Eastern end of it, was iti 177S, made a part 
of Ward, now Auburn, and the remainder in 1838 was annexed to Ox- 
ford. He died 1720, aged 73. 

t This hill is probably what is called " Bumskit," and lies in the 



HIS TORYOF SPENCER. 11 

SO then Easterly upon a line until it comes against Wor- 
cester bounds and joins unto their bounds, or howsoever 
otherwise butted and bounded, together with all and sin- 
gular the rights, commodities, liberties, privileges and ap- 
purtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or however 
otherwise appertaining. To have and to hold the said 
tract or parcel of land situating, containing and bounding 
as aforesaid to the said Lamb, &c. their heirs and assigns 
in common tenancy, to their only proper use, sake of and 
benefit forever. And the said Philip Tray and Momokhue 
and John Wampscon and Waiwaynom their wives, with 
all others under them as aforesaid, do covenant, promise 
and grant for themselves, their heirs, executors and admin- 
istrators to and with the said Joshua Lamb, &c., their heirs 
and assigns, that they will the above granted and bargained 
lands and every part and parcel thereof, with their and 
every of their appurtenances, warrant and defend from 
all and every person and persons whatsoever, claiming 
any right or title thereunto or interest therein from, by or 
under us. In witness whereof, the said Philip Tray and 
Momokhue and John Wampscon with Waiwaynom being 
their wives, have hereunto set their hands and seals this 
twenty-seventh day of January, Anno Domini one thousand 
six hundred and eighty-six. 

Signed, sealed and delivered ) Philip Tray © his mark (seal) 
in presence of us, ) Momokhue Tray t her mark (seal) 

Tom Tray ® his mark. John Wamscon, (seal) 

Nonawano «^>> his mark. Waiwaynom Wamscon t n''"ic (seal) 
Capt. '^r Moogus his mark. WandwoamagS thedeacon„'^;|^k(seal) 
Andrews Pitteme his mark. Jonas his wives mark (seal) 

South-east part of Paxton, and was known anciently by the name of 
" Hasnebumskit" or " Asnebumskit." It is the highest land in the 
county of Worcester, excepting Wachusett in Princeton. The other 
bounds mentioned in the deed are now not knoAvn. 



1^ HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Philip Tray, Momokhue his wife, Waiwaynom and Wan- 
do wamag, all personally appearing before me underwritten, 
one of his Majesty's Council of his territory and Domin- 
ions of New England, June 1, 1687, did acknowledge 
this instrument to be their act and deed. 

William Stoughton. 

Recorded, March 8th, 1713-4.* 

Pr. John Chandler, Town Clerk." 

Nothing further is heard of this tract of land for more 
than twenty-six years. In the mean time Brookfield be- 

* There are many instances like this, in the ancient records, of double- 
dating. To conform to the new .style,this date instead of March 8, 1713-4 
should be March 20, 1714. It was found that the Julian year (adopted 
by Julius Caesar) consisting of 365 days and 6 hours, and every fourth 
year of 366 days, was a fraction too long, and carried the spring months 
gradually into the summer; the error had already amounted to 11 days. 
In order therefore to bring the Vernal Equinox on the 21st of March, 
Pope Gregory XIII. in 1582, ordered 11 days to be stricken from Sep- 
tember 1582, calling the 3d day the 14th. And in order to provide that 
the Equinox should continue to fall on the 21st of March, the year was 
made to consist of 365 days, with an intercalary day in February, every 
fourth or leap year, omitting this additional day, 3 times in 400 years. 
It was omitted in 1800, making 12 days between the Old and New 
Style. After the Calender had thus been corrected by Pope Gregory, 
the correction was immediately adopted by all the Catholic Countries, 
but it was not adopted in England, or the American Colonies until 1752, 
when the alteration was made by an act of Parliament. Previous to this 
the year commenced on ihe 25th of March, which is called old style ; 
now it commences on the 1st of January, which is new style. The 
25th of March, is denominated by the Catholic church, Annunciation, 
or Lady Day. As most of the nations had adopted the new style, in or- 
der to conform in some measure to it, the English adopted double-dat- 
ing until Sept. 2, 1752. Thus as above, March 8, 1713, would be old 
style ; March 20, 1714, would be new style. Therefore to bring old 
style into new style, in all dates between the 1st of January and the 
25th of March for a century previous to Sept. 2, 1752, twelve days 
should be added. In this compilation, where the dates happen between 
January 1st, and March 25th, the year conforms to the new style, but 
the date of the months remains unaltered. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 13 

gan to be settled on the West, and Worcester on the East. 
But the war commonly called dueen Ann's war,^ breaking 
out, all the plantations and new settlements in this part of 
the country, were broken up, and many of them entirely 
destroyed. This probably discouraged the proprietors 
from making any attempts to settle Toutaid or Leicester. 
However, at the close of the war, they presented a petition 
to the General Court, praying a "confirmation of the said 
tract to them and their associates ; that they may be en- 
couraged to proceed to settle the same with inhabitants, 
under such directions and reservations as shall be thought 
meet." Accordingly, on the 15th of February, 1713-4, it 
was " ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted ; 
provided that within seven years time, fifty families settle 
themselves in as defensible and regular a way as the cir- 
cumstances of the place will allow, on part of said land ; 
and that a sufficient quantity thereof be reserved for the 
use of a Gospel ministry there and a school. Provided 
also, that this interfere with no former grant, and this 
grant shall not exceed the quantity of eight miles square. 
The town to be called Leicester, and to belong to the 
county of Middlesex." 

On the 23d of the same month of February, the origin- 
al granteJes, admitted thirteen other gentlemen as associates 
and proprietors of the said township. The following are 
the names of all the proprietors at this time, viz., Joshua 
Lamb, Samuel Ruggles, Benjamin Gamlin, Benjamin 
Tucker, Jonathan Curtis, Ralf Bradhurst, Richard Draper, 
Thomas Gardner, Nathaniel Page, Jeremiah Dummer, 

* This war commenced in 1699, and peace was concluded in 1713. 
The Indians, stimulated by the French, overran most of the frontier set- 
tlements. Worcester was entirely destroyed, and remained desolate 
until 1713. Brookfield suffered severely, and was almost entirely de- 
populated. 



14 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Paul Dudley, John Clark, Addington Davenport, Thomas 
Hutchinson, John White, William Hutchinson, Francis 
Wainwright, John Chandler and Thomas Howe as one, 
Daniel Allen and Samuel Sewall as one, and William 
Dudley, making twenty-two proprietors for twenty shares.* 

* These proprietors were all gentlemen of wealth and respectability, 
and many of them of very high standing in the community. Joshua 
Lamb, belonged to Roxbury, was Colonel of one of the Suffolk regi- 
ments, a magistrate and a great landholder. Samuel Ruggles belonged 
also to Roxbury, and was grand-father to the celebrated Brigadier 
Ruggles of Hardwick. He died in 1716. Benjamin Gamlin was also 
of Roxbury, and was grand-father to the first wife of Stephen Rogers, 
the farm being his wife's inheritance. Benjamin Tucker was of Rox- 
bury. He died in 1728. One of his sons, Samuel, died in this town 
and left posterity here. Jonathan Curtis belonged, also, in Roxbury. 
He had two sons, Jonathan and John, who both came to Leicester. 
John died in Spencer, leaving posterity here. Ralf Bradhurst, also, 
lived in Roxbury. This name was afterwards written Bradish. He 
died about 1730. Richard Draper was a merchant in Boston. In his 
will dated December 26, 1728, he is styled "son of Edward Draper and 
Ann his wife, late of Boston near Banbury in the county of Oxford, 
Great Britain, and only brother of William Draper seniour of Boston 
aforesaid." Thomas Gardner was son of Andrew Gardner of Brookline. 
One of the same name was minister of Worcester and Lunenburgh, 
probably the same person. Nathaniel Page belonged to Billerica. Jer- 
emiah Dummer was born in Boston, educated at Harvard College, and 
was a gentleman distinguished for his learning and talents, was agent 
at England for the Province of Massachusetts from 1710 to 1721. He 
was called in history " a great man,'' died in 1739. Paul Dudley, was 
son of Gov. Joseph Dudley, was in 1702, appointed by Queen Ann, At- 
torney General of Massachusetts, and afterwards Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Court. Died 1751, aged 78. John Clark was a representative 
from Boston to the General Court, was chosen speaker of the house in 
1721. His son, John, an eminent physician in Boston, inherited his 
estate in Spencer. He died December, 1728. Addington Davenport, 
was of Boston, and one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. Thomas 
Hutchinson, was a distinguished merchant of Boston, Colonel of a regi- 
ment, many years a Counsellor, and father to the late Governor Hutch- 
inson. He was the man who personally, seized the famous pirate, Capt. 
Robert Kidd, when he offered violent resistance to all. He died 1739, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 16 

On the same day they voted " that one half of the town- 
ship of Leicester be disposed of, or sold to fifty families 
that shall settle and establish themselves there according 
to the injunction of the General Court." The Eastern 
half (now Leicester) was accordingly appropriated for that 
purpose, and the Western half (now Spencer) ordered to 
be divided among the Proprietors, into twenty shares. 

FIRST SETTLEMENT OF LEICESTER. 

On the 14th of May, 1714, a committee of the Proprie- 
tors repaired to the Easterly half of Leicester, for the pur- 
pose of locating house lots, to such persons as chose to 
take them on the prescribed conditions. These condi- 
tions were, that one shilling per acre should be paid for 
each house lot, and that a family should be settled on 
each of them within three years, or else be forfeited and 
return to the proprietors. These house lots contained gen- 
erally forty acres, but some lots contained fifty acres, and 
some only thirty, and every house lot was entitled to one 
hundred additional acres, to be taken up in some other 
part of the town, to every ten acres of the house lots. 
These were called after rights. Thus by paying forty 

aged 65. John White, was many yeafs clerk of the house of represen- 
tatives. He died of the small pox, 1721. William Hutchinson, was a 
man of large fortune and one of the representatives of Boston. Francis 
Wainwright, was a merchant of Boston. John Chandler belonged to 
Woodstock, was one of the Council, one of the proprietors of Oxford, 
Chief Justice of the first Court of Common Pleas established in Worces- 
ter; also, first Judge of Probate, and Colonel of a regiment, died in 
1743. Thomas Howe was a gentleman of Marlborough. Daniel Allen 
was a merchant of Boston. Samuel Sewall was a gentleman of Brook- 
line. William Dudley belonged to Roxbury, was brother of Hon. Paul 
Dudley, speaker of the House of Representatives, an active officer at 
the taking of Port Royal in 1710, Colonel of a regiment, and one of the 
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. Died in 1743. 



16 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

shillings, asettler was entitled to a house lot of forty acres, 
and four hundred acres in addition. Roads were located 
between the ranges of house lots, and two of those, one 
running North and the other South, from the village, still 
remain where first located. The first house lot was grant- 
ed to John Stebbings, of whom mention will hereafter be 
made. It was located on Strawberry Hill, the present 
site of Leicester village, and extended principally South of 
it. Several failed to comply with the prescribed condi- 
tions, so that more than eight years expired before fifty 
families were permanently settled on the territory. 

Having at length succeeded in effecting a settlement of 
the required number of families in the town, the proprie- 
tors, by their committee, on the 8th of January, 1724, ex- 
ecuted a deed of conveyance of the Eastern half of Leices- 
ter to the following persons, who had previously settled 
thereon ; viz : John Stebbings, Joseph Stebbings, James 
Wilson, Samuel Green, Arthur Gary, Moses Stockbridge, 
Hezekiah Russ, John Peters, William Brown, Thomas 
Hopkins, Daniel Denny, John Smith, Ralf Earle, Nathan- 
iel Kanney, Samuel Stimson, Benjamin Woodbridge, John 
Lynde, Josiah Winslow, Josiah Langdon, Joshua Hen- 
shaw, Mr. Joseph Parsons, Nathaniel Richardson, John Men- 
zies, Esq., Joseph Sargent, Daniel Livermore, James South- 
gate, Daniel Parker, Esq., Thomas Baker, Richard South- 
gate, Samuel Prince, Dorothy Friar, Thomas Dexter, 
William Keen, James Winslow, Stephen Winchester, 
Paul Dudley, Esq., and John I^ing, being 37 persons only ; 
but some of these settled two or three families in different 
parts of the town, making fifty families in the whole. 
Several of these families have left numerous descendants, 
such as the Greens, the Dennys, the Earles, the Henshaws, 
Southgates, «fcc. Nathaniel Kanney, Josiah Langdon, Jo- 
siah and James Winslow, Samuel Prince and Paul Dudley 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 17 

never were residents in Leicester, but settled other fami- 
lies there. John Stebbings and James Wilson soon re- 
moved from the Eastern part of Leicester and were some 
of the first settlers of Spencer. 

In the mean time, the Proprietors having disposed of 
their interest in the Eastern part of the township, turned 
their attention to the sale and settlement of the Western 
part. Previous to this time, a few settlements had been 
made in that part of the town. October 11, 1716, the 
proprietors met at Boston and voted that 10,000 acres of 
it should be surveyed and divided into forty " allotments" 
of 250 acres each, and two of these allotments set to each 
of the proprietors, and that all cedar swamps in the said 
half lie in common for the present, that no person be al- 
lowed to sell, dispose or destroy any more than for his 
own use, and that Moose pond lie and remain common 
for the use and benefit of all the proprietors, and that con- 
venient high-ways be laid out thereto."* These 40 lots 
were surveyed and an additional one for the use of schools 
and the ministry, and the proprietors again met in June, 
1717, and the allotments were, divided by lot among them- 
selves, being 500 acres to each. This 10,000 acres com- 
prises about one half of Spencer, taking nearly all the land 
North of the great post-road, with three or four lots South 
of it. The first settlements commenced upon these lots. 
This was called the first division, and these lots were 
generally one mile long and 125 rods wide. The second 
division was not completed until July, 1730, when the re- 
mainder was divided into 40 lots more, each lot contain- 
ing 240 acres, with an addition of about 9 acres of mead- 
ow, all meadows of 20 acres or more being reserved for 
that purpose. These meadows were Seven-mile river 

* There is no record of any roads being ever laid out to Moose pond. 
3 



18 HISTORY OF SPENCER: 

meadow, commonly called the Great meadow; Branch 
meadow at the North-east part of the town ; Cranbury 
meadow, now overflowed, and the meadow adjoining Ce- 
dar swamp. The settlement of Spencer was a slow pro- 
cess. The first was probably in 1717, and in twenty 
years there were not perhaps, more than twenty families 
permanently located in the town. 

BOUNDARIES OF LEICESTER AND SPENCER. 

In 1714, John Chandler, Esq., by order of the General 
Court, made a survey of the whole town. His return, ac- 
companied with a plan, was made June 19, of the same 
year, and established by the court as the legal bounds of 
the town. According to this survey the East line on Wor- 
cester, was North and by West, 8 miles and 20 rods ; 
North on Rutland, West 7 deg. North, 7 miles and 100 
rods ; West on Brookfield, due North and South, 8 miles ; 
South on the Gore East 4 deg. South, 9 miles and twenty 
rods, containing " forty thousand, nine hundred and sixty 
acres, being the quantity of eight miles square." The 
Western line, between the towns of Brookfield and Lei- 
cester, was the cause of some contention, between the 
two towns, so much so, that the legislature were called 
upon to interfere. The line was run by Brookfield in 
1701, and was stated to be due North and South. John 
Chandler's in 1714, was the same course. But the select- 
men of Brookfield, in 1719, perambulated the line anew,and 
made the South corner between the towns 38 rods further 
East, the line running South 2 deg. East, and to this line the 
owners of land in Brookfield claimed. The inhabitants of 
Leicester petitioned the General Court for redress, and in 
1730, the same John Chandler, with two other gentlemen, 
by order of the Court, again run the line, and that run by 
Brookfield 1719, was confirmed, thus taking a triangular 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 19 

piece of 38 rods at the South, and running to a point at 
the North, from Leicester, or what was supposed to be 
then, and adding it to Brookfield. A strip 22 rods wide 
was severed from Nathaniel Wood's farm, on the great 
post-road. 

In 1830, the town of Spencer was accurately surveyed. 
The following are the exact lines and courses. Beginning 
at a stone monument it being the South-west corner of 
Spencer on Brookfield line and running on Charlton South 
88 1-2 deg. East, four miles and forty-three rods, to a 
stone monument on Leicester line ; thence on Leicester, 
North 2 1-2 deg. West, six miles and one hundred and 
forty rods to a stone monument, being the South-west cor- 
ner of Paxton ; thence same course on Paxton two miles 
and ten rods to a stone monument on Rutland line ; thence 
on Rutland South 85 deg. West, one mile and forty-one 
rods to a stone monument, being the South-east corner of 
Oakham ; thence same course on Oakham, two miles and 
two hundred and ten rods to a stone monument, being the 
North-west corner of Spencer, the South-west corner of 
Oakham, the South-west corner of New Braintree and the 
North-east corner of North Brookfield, thence South 1-2 
deg. East on North Brookfield, four miles and one hun- 
dred and twenty rods to a stone monument, being the di- 
viding point between North Brookfield and Brookfield ; 
thence same course on Brookfield, four miles and sixty- 
six rods to the place of beginning, containing 21,594 acres. 

CIVIL HISTORY OF LEICESTER. 

The first town-meeting on record, was held March 6, 
1721, for the choice of town officers. There must, howev- 
er, have been a town-meeting, the year previous, and town 
officers chosen, for at a meeting in May 1721, a vote was 
passed choosing "the present selectmen a committee to 



20 H 1 S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 

reckon with the last yearns treasurer for monies aheady 
raised, &c." The town was represented in the General 
Court for 1721, although there is no record of it, but at a 
town-meeting May 15, 1722, the town voted "to pay his 
honor Judge Minzies, Esq., for his serving us in the Gener- 
al Court the year 1721." But Judge Minzies declared 
himself satisfied without any pay, whereupon it was voted 
" that Judge Minzies be our representative for the year 
1722." Although the inhabitants of Leicester had so far 
exercised the elective franchise for 1720 and 1721, as to 
choose municipal officers, and even elect a representative, 
yet it seems they were not fully and legally author- 
ized to exercise all the powers of incorporated towns. 
Accordingly June 14, 1722, the selectmen presented a pe- 
tition to the General Court, "praying that the town may 
be confirmed in the enjoyment of the powers and privi- 
leges of a town, and to be enabled to gather and collect a 
tax, «fcc." The request was granted and Daniel Denny 
was authorized to collect taxes as a constable, &c." The 
same year the town voted, that if Joseph Parsons, Esq., 
would build a corn mill for the use of the town, it should 
be free from taxes. It was accordingly built, and stood, 
as tradition says, about half a mile west of the meeting- 
house, near the site of the brick card factory. 

In 1723, Judge Minzies was elected a representative and 
again refused to receive any pecuniary remuneration for 
his services, declaring he was " fully satisfied and paid." 
The next year, 1724, being assembled again for the choice 
of a representative, they passed a vote of thanks to Judge 
Minzies " for his good service as a representative the year 
past, and whoever should be chosen this year, should be 
paid the same as Judge Minzies and no other." They 
then made choice of Lieut. Thomas Newhall " to serve on 
the conditions ahovesaidy 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 21 

It is believed the inhabitants of Leicester have never 
had their midnight slumbers broken by the hideous yells 
of the savage war-whoop, nor have any of their numbers 
fallen by the tomahawk or scalping knife of the Indian ; 
yet the first settlers of both the Eastern and Western part of 
the town, were frequently alarmed and disturbed by small 
parties or individual Indians prowling about the neighbor- 
hood or through the town. Garrisons had been establish- 
ed in various parts of the town, and one around the house 
of the Rev. Mr. Parson, near the meeting-house. The 
following document will show the situation of Leicester 
at this time. 

" Leicester,* April 30, 1725. 
" To his Honor the Lieutenant Governor. 

" With all deutiful respect, these are to acquaint your 
Honour, that just now there came news to us of two com- 
panyesof Indians discovered between us and the Wachu- 
setts, which is very surprising, considering our inability 
for our own safeguard. As to the truth of the report with 
the circumstances we are altogether at a loss : but we 
hear there is a Post gone down to your Honour about it. 
Your Honour having always been ready to keep us, and we 
having had some encouragement upon our late Petition, 
we are encouraged to beseech your Honour, if it may be 
that we have some speedy assistance of Soldiers to defend 
us. Our number of inhabitants is vary small and several 
were much discouraged. It was so late the last summer 
before we had Soldiers that we were exceedingly behind 
with our businese. So wishing your Honour all happi- 

* See National Mgis of April 24, 1839. In 1722, scouts were posted 
in Leicester, under the command of Major John Chandler, and in 1724, 
twenty-nine soldiers from Capt. William Chandler's company, were pos- 
ted there as a guard for the protection of the inhabitants. Lincoln's 
History of Worcester, Pages 51-53. 



23 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

ness, and confiding in yeur Honour, and rather from our 
experience ; we are yeur Honours in all gratitude and obe- 
dience, 

Thomas Newhall, William Brown, 

Richd. Southgate, John Smith, 

Benjamin Johnson, James Southgate, 

Ralf Earle, Nathl. Richardson. 

John liynds, 
" To the Honourable William Dummer, Lieutenant 
Governor dwelling in Boston, for his majesty's service." 

The same year, the selectmen presented a petition to 
the General Court, " setting forth that the said town is a 
Frontier, and has been very much exposed and reduced 
to very low circumstances by reason of the late Indian 
War, and therefore praying that this court would compas- 
sionate their distressed case, and abate their proportion of 
the Province tax for the present year." The tax was ac- 
cordingly abated.* 

In 1726, the garrison around Mr. Parson's house was re- 
paired and put into a defensible state by a vote of the 
town. In 172T, a committee was chosen, again, to repair 
the same garrison. 

After this, the inhabitants of Leicester were not further 
disturbed by fears from the depredations of hostile In- 
dians. The town increased rapidly, in population and 
wealth, especially the Eastern, or settlers' f part. This 
was settled under peculiar advantages, the settlers having 
paid merely a nominal price for their farms, a sum bare- 
ly sufficient to defray the expenses of the survey and 

* The town's proportion of the province tax for 1725, was seven 
pounds. 

f The Eastern part of the town, was called the " settlers' part" and the 
Western part, the proprietors' part, and afterwards the West Parish of 
Leicester. 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 23 

Other incidental charges. But the inhabitants of the 
Westerly part were not so favored. The proprietors hav- 
ing given away one half of the town, in order to comply 
with the conditions of their grant, retained the other half 
in their possession until they could dispose of it to the 
best advantage. Consequently, the progress of settlement 
was much slower, and up to 1740, there were probably, 
not more than one hundred and fifty inhabitants in that 
part of the town. They were, however, taxed for all 
purposes, whether municipal, parochial or otherwise, in the 
old part of the town.* But the corporate privileges and 
advantages which they received in return, was not, in 
their opinion, a sufficient compensation for the amount of 
their taxes. No roads had been located for their particu- 
lar accommodation, and this, together with the distance, 
prevented the attendance of but few at church, and they 
received no benefit, whatever, from what they paid for 
the support of schools. In 1736, a tax of one penny per 
acre was laid on the whole town towards the support of a 
minister. The proprietors and settlers of the Westerly 
part petitioned the General Court, that their part of the 
tax might be applied towards the support of preaching in 
that part of the town. But their application did not pre- 
vail. 

In 1751, they presented a petition to the town, at their 
annual meeting, requesting to be exempted from paying 
the minister and for the support of schools. But in this 
too, they were unsuccessful. At a subsequent town-meet- 
ing the same year, they asked to be " set off" as a distinct 

*In 1731, three persons, only, living in the Westerly part of the town, 
appeared to be taxed, viz : Samuel Bemis, Jonathan Lamb and John 
Greaton. 1733, five persons were taxed, viz : Samuel Bemis, Jonathan 
Lamb, John Greaton, James Ormes and Jonathan Ormes. 1739, sev- 
enteen were taxed. 1742, forty-one were taxed. 



24 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

town. This request was granted. Application was after- 
wards made, by them, to the General Court for that pur- 
pose. This request was also granted, and a bill for that 
purpose passed both houses, but was vetoed by Governor 
Shirley. This result produced a general dissatisfaction, 
as both parts of the town, and the proprietors also, were 
desirous a separation should take place. Accordingly, the 
proprietors and some of the inhabitants of the Westerly 
part, met at the Royal Exchange Tavern in Boston, Feb- 
ruary 15, 1743-4, and voted, " That Col. Samuel Wil- 
lard, Thomas Hutchinson and Eliakim Hutchinson, Esqrs. 
Messrs. Nathl. Cunningham, Samuel Hunt and Grafton 
Feveryear, be a committee in the behalf of the proprie- 
tors and settlers to wait on his Excellency the Governor 
and inform him of the difficulties they labor under for the 
want of his Excellencies consent to a petition by them 
presented to the General Court for making them a separ- 
ate town from the Easterly half of Leicester, which has 
passed both Houses, but his Excellency was not then in- 
clined to give his consent thereto, and to use their best 
endeavours to obtain his Excellencies consent that the 
same may be made a separate Township." Governor 
Shirley perhaps, was as popular as any of Royal appoint- 
ment, yet he would not, during the period of his govern- 
ment, consent to the bill. 

The inhabitants of both parts of the town, acquiesced 
in this state of things with as much grace as they could, 
making a virtue of necessity. They became resigned to 
what they could not prevent, and nothing further occurred 
to disturb the harmony of the people, for several years. 

The inhabitants of the Westerly part, however, contin- 
ued to persevere in their attempts to become a separate 
corporation. John Ormes was employed as agent in their 
behalf, to petition to be made a distinct town, or other- 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 25 

wise, to be a parish. May 30, 1744, he presented a peti- 
tion to the General Court representing " that the difficul- 
ties which moved him to apply that they might be a dis- 
tinct Township do still subsistj and may in a great meas- 
ure be removed by their being made a Precinct." This 
request was granted, and they became a Parish by an act 
of incorporation July 18, 1744. 

In 1749, four of the selectmen belonged to the East 
Parish, and one only, Moses Smith, belonged to the West 
Parish. They were requested to locate certain roads in the 
West Parish. This was thought reasonable, as the town 
had been at considerable expense, for two or three years 
previous, for making several new roads in the East Par- 
ish. But a majority of the selectmen thought proper not 
to comply with this request. The West Parish, by their 
committee, John Newhall and Moses Smith, petitioned 
the court of Sessions at Worcester to lay out suitable 
roads for their accommodation. The selectmen were cit- 
ed to appear, to show cause why their prayer should not 
be granted. The town, accordingly, chose a committee 
to appear at court to oppose the petition. A compromise, 
was, however, effected, and the next year, eleven roads 
were located for the special benefit of the West Parish, 
constituting what are now, some of our most useful roads. 
The inhabitants of the town were somewhat disturbed by 
this coercive measure, and they determined to take imme- 
diate measures to effect a separation, and thus leave the 
West Praish to make their own roads. Accordingly, No- 
vember 22, 1749, the following petition was presented to 
the General Court. 

" Petition to the Honorable Spencer Pliipps, Lieutenant 

Governour, by the subscribers, a committee of the town of 

Leicester, stating that the inhabitants of the Westerly 

part of said town, have built a meeting-house and settled 

4 



26 HISTORY OF SPENCER, 

a minister, and stating further, that about eight years ago, 
moved to the town of Leicester for their consent to be set 
off and made a distinct town, which Avas readily granted, 
whereupon appHcation was made to the court about three 
years afterwards for the same ; but instead of being made 
a town, was made a precinct only, which was very griev- 
ous to both, nor had the town any opportunity given them 
to offer any reasons to the Honorable Court to the contrary, 
although they had many to give, and one was that the 
West part called upon the selectmen of Leicester to lay 
out roads for them, upon the joiint expense of both parts 
of said town, so that the inhabitants of the West part 
might get to meeting, 6cq.. They further state, that when 
the land in the Easterly part was laid out, sufficient land 
was appropriated for roads, but when the West part was 
divided, it was laid out into lots, and no land left for roads, 
and now the East part was called upon to be at their pro- 
portion of the expense, which they considered unjust. 
That the inhabitants of the West part preferred a com- 
plaint to the Court of Sessions for a committee to lay out 
roads for their accommodation. They therefore pray the 
Court to erect the West part of Leicester into a distinct 
and separate town, &c. Daniel Denny, 

Steward Southgate, 
John Brown." 
The General Court being thus urgently pressed by the 
inhabitants of both parts of the town, brought in a bill for 
the purpose of erecting the West Parish into a town. 
But his Honor Lieutenant Governor Phipps, was not 
inclined to gratify the unanimous wishes of all parties, in 
this respect, but like his predecessor five years before, to 
veto the bill, and on December 22, 1749, the Secretary 
delivered the following Message from the Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor to both Houses, viz : 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 27 

" Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representa- 
tives — The Secretary has laid before me for my signing, 
an engrossed bill passed by both Houses for incorporating 
the West or second Precinct in the township of Leicester 
into a distinct or separate township, &c. Whereupon I 
must inform you that I am restrained from giving my 
consent to this bill, unless provision be made that the 
number of Representatives be not thereby increased, or a 
clause for suspending the execution of the act until His 
Majesties pleasure shall be known thereupon, be inserted 
in the said act." 

The House became indignant at such unreasonable and 
tyrannical conduct of the Lieutenant Governor, and on Jan- 
uary 4, succeeding, transmitted to him the following spir- 
ited message. " May it please your Honour. The House 
taking into consideration your Honour's message of the 
22d of December, beg leave to say. They are at a loss to 
know why your Honour apprehends yourself restrained 
from giving your consent to the bill unless provision be 
made that the number of Representatives be not thereby 
increased, or a clause for suspending the execution of the 
act until His Majesties pleasure should be known thereupon 
be inserted in said bill, but must suppose your Honour in- 
duced so to judge either from the reason or nature of the 
thing, or from some restraint in their late Majesties charter 
to this Province, which are the only rules of government 
in this his Majesties Province ; In neither of which can the 
House find any restraint ; in which opinion the House are 
more confirmed from the fate of a late bill in the Hon'ble 
House of Commons, of which your Honour is well know- 
ing.* The House apprehend the forming that part of Lei- 
cester into a distinct township will be for the prosperity of 

* What bill the House here refer to, is not known. 



28 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

His Majesties subjects, in which his Majesty always takes 
pleasure, the ends of government being his Majesties hon- 
our and the happiness of his subjects ; and that the people 
be fully represented is for His Majesties Honour and the 
happiness of his subjects and is agreeable to his Majesties 
character and laws of this Province, is the opinion of the 
House. But were it not so, the number of the Represen- 
tatives the town of Leicester by charter and the laws of 
this Province are now entitled to, is not enlarged by this 
bill ; And therefore the House flatter themselves, your 
Honour will give your consent." His Honor, however, 
remained incorrigible. These documents shew the liberal 
sentiments prevailing in the House of Representatives of 
Massachusetts, and which were always opposed and 
thwarted by the royal governors. This struggle contin- 
ued, and sometimes with great animosity, from 1692 to 
1775, when the unconstitutional and tyrannical power of 
Great Britain over this country was finally and effectually 
resisted, and the people became triumphant. 

Thus were the inhabitants of this town doomed a sec- 
ond time to suffer the pangs of disappointed hope, by the 
tyrannical acts of a governor, not a governor chosen by the 
voluntary suffrages of a free people, but one appointed by 
the British Crown, and one who had no personal interest 
in the welfare of the people. Although sadly disappoint- 
ed they were not discouraged, but determined to persevere 
until their efforts should be crowned with complete suc- 
cess. They, however, waited three years longer, when at 
a Parish Meeting, March 6, 1753, Capt. Benjamin Johnson, 
Lieut. John White and Deacon John Worster, were chosen 
a committee to prefer a petition to the General Court, 
once more asking to be incorporated into a town. The 
application at last was successful and Lieutenant Governor 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 29 

Phipps condescended to give his consent to the bill, and it 
became a law. 

The following is a copy of the act. 

Anno Regiii C royal > Regis Georgii 

secundo vicessimo ( seal. 5 Sexto. 

An act for erecting the second Precinct in the town of 
Leicester into a separate District.* 

Be it enacted by the Lieutenant Governor, Council and 
House of Representatives, that the said second Precinct in 
Leicester bounding North on the town of Rutland, Easter- 
ly on the first Parish in Leicester, Southerly on land called 
the Country Gore,f Westerly on the town of Brookfield, 
be and hereby is erected into a separate and distinct Dis- 
trict by the name of Spencer,J and that the said District 
be invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities 
that towns in this Province by law do, or may enjoy, that 
of sending a Representative to the General Assembly only 
excepted; and that the said District shall have full liberty 
and right from time to time to join with the town of Lei- 
cester in choosing a Representative to represent them at 
the General Assembly, and that the said District shall 
from time to time be at their proportional part of the ex- 
pense of such representative. And that the town of Lei- 
cester, as often as they shall call a meeting for the choice 
of Representatives, shall from time to time, give reasona- 

* It was called a '* District" because it was prohibited from choosing 
a representative. This was the case with Barre, Oakham, Paxton, and 
many other towns when first incorporated. This restriction continued 
until the commencement of the revolution in 1775, when every town or 
district, being freed from British bondage, was allowed to send a rep- 
resentative, and so continued until 1780, when the constitution guaran- 
teed the right. 

f This is now a part of the town of Charlton. 

t This town was probably named Spencer, in honor of Lieutenant 
Governor, Spencer Phipps. 



30 HISTORY OF SPENCER: 

ble notice to the clerk of said District for the time being, 
of the time and place of holding of said meeting, to the 
end that said District may join therein, and the clerk of 
said District shall set up in some public place in said Dis- 
trict a notification thereof accordingly. 

Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, that 
the said District shall pay their proportion of all Town, 
County and Province taxes already set or granted to be 
raised by said town, as if this act had not been made. 

And be it further enacted. That Thomas Steele, Esqr., 
be and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant directed 
to some principal inhabitant in said District, requiring him 
to notify and warn the inhabitants of said District qualifi- 
ed by law to vote in town affairs to meet at such time and 
place as shall be therein set forth, to choose all such officers 
as shall be necessary to manage the affairs of said District. 

April 3, 1753. This bill having been read three sev- 
eral times in the House of Representatives, Passed to 
be enacted. T. Hubbard, Spkr. 

April 3, 1753. This bill having been read three sever- 
al times in Council, Passed to be enacted. 

J. Willard, Secry. 

April 12, 1753. By the Lieutenant Governor, I con- 
sent to the enacting of this bill. S. Phipps. 

Published, April L4, 1753. 

Thos. Clark, Depty. Secry. 

It will be seen by the provisions of this act, that the 
town of Spencer was especially prohibited from sending a 
Representative of their own, but the inhabitants had the 
privilege, if they chose, of going to Leicester and voting 
for some gentlemen in that town for the office. This 
was a kind of partnership, that if the labor and expense 
were equal, yet the honor and profits were shared by one 
of the parties only ; for during the period of more than 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 31 

twenty years, while this state of things existed, the town 
of Spencer was not so fortunate as to have one gentleman, 
who was sufficiently qualified, in the opinion of the in- 
habitants of both toivns, to be a representative to the 
Great and General Court. Agreeable to a special provi- 
sion of the aforesaid act, Mr. Justice Steele of Leicester 
issued his warrant to Capt. Benjamin Johnson, and a 
meeting of the inhabitants was called and the town was 
organized by choosing municipal officers as the law di- 
rected. It may be a curiosity to some of the present gen- 
eration, to see who were the men that composed the first 
organization of the town, and what office their ancestors 
had the honor first to hold. 

The following is a list of officers for the town of Spen- 
cer, at the first organization of the town, May 14, 1753. 
Capt. Benjamin Johnson, Moderator. 

" Benjamin Johnson, Town Clerk. 
Deacon John Worster, ^ 

John Cunningham, 
John Muzzy, 
■ Deacon James Willson, 
Capt. Benjamin Johnson, 

" Benjamin Johnson, Treasurer. 

Samuel Bemis, Jun., > ^ , , 
T /-~v /■ v^onstaDies. 

James Ormes, 5 

Voted, the Selectmen be the Assessors. 

Ensign John Stebbings, "^ 

Samuel Garfield, Highway Surveyors on the 

John Prouty, > North side of the country 

Caleb Bridges, road. 

Robert Griffin, J 

Jacob Stoddard, ^Highway Surveyors on the 

Jonathan Lamb, > South side of the country 

David Adams, 3 road. 

James Richardson, Highway surveyor on the 

country road. 



■■ 



Selectmen. 



32 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

Joshua Draper, ) „ 

D • • Tsr 1 J ^ Hogreeves. 

Benjamm Woodard, 5 

Deacon John Worster, > r^ -.r- 

mu D • 1 ^ Fence Viewers. 

Thomas Bridges, > 

Israel Holton, Sealer of Leather. 

Lieut. John White, Sealer of Weights and Measures. 

James Draper, ? m *u- 
Jacob Stoddard, I Tythingmen. 

The population of the town at that time, probably did 
not exceed 500, and that of Leicester, about 700. The 
inhabitants of this town being mostly agriculturists, pop- 
ulation has not increased so rapidly as in some other 
towns in the County where large manufacturing establish- 
ments exist. The following is the population of the 
town at different periods, from 1764, to 1840. 

Males FemslPs Males Females Total Ffo. 

Tcan. Houies. Families. under IS. under 16. aLove 16, above 16, Negroes, of persons. 

1764 100 111 174 173 160 152 *5 664 
1776 1042 

1790 1322 

1800 1432 

1810 1453 

1820 1548 

1830 1688 

1837 12085 

1840 1604 

From 1753, to the revolution, nothing occurred in the 
town, which is particularly worth relating. Population 
gradually increased, new lands continued to be taken up 
and settled upon, county and town roads were constructed 

* These were slaves, and were owned by the Rev. Mr. Eaton, John 
Elliot, Esq. and John White, senior. 

t When the census was taken in 1S37, there were about 400 people, 
mostly Irish, who were temporarily here, workingjon the Western Rail 
Road, and included in the number, who have since left the town. 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 33 

in various parts to suit the growing wants of the inhabitants, 
the town was divided into suitable school districts and 
school houses erected, and various other improvements 
were made. During this time, war between the English 
and French continued, in which this state was naturally 
involved, and a great many men, as officers and soldiers, 
went from this town, to Crown Point, Ticonderoga and 
other places, some of whom were destined never again to 
return. 



CIVIL HISTORY OF SPEiNCER. 
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 

The inhabitants of Spencer took an active part in the 
measures that brought about and sustained the revolution, 
and it is beheved, contributed their full share of men and 
money, towards the consummation of that glorious event. 
But it cannot be expected that a full account can here be 
given of what was done by this town in that great struggle 
for liberty, nor is it necessary. But little more than a mere 
sketch of their official doings will be here presented. 

The town of Boston, which was always the first to 
move in every patriotic measure throughout the revolu- 
tion, had transmitted a circular to the inhabitants of the 
several towns in the Commonwealth, accompanied with a 
pamphlet " wherein the rights of the colonists and the in- 
fringements thereof are set forth." The towns of Leices- 
ter, Spencer and Paxton. as early as January 1, 1773, as- 
sembled at Leicester to take the same into consideration. 
This is the first movement of an official and organized 
character, which was made by this town in opposition to 
the oppressive measures which this country received from 
5 



34 H 1 S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 

Great Britain. At this meeting, a committee from the 
several towns was appointed, (Moses Livermore and Joshua 
Lamb, from Spencer,) who presented to the meeting sev- 
eral patriotic and spirited resolutions, which were unani- 
mously passed. They also presented instructions of the 
same import to their representative, Thomas Denny, Esqr. 
of Leicester, which were accepted. Did room permit, 
they would be highly worthy of insertion. Suffice it to 
say, they breathe the most noble and patriotic sentiments, 
and are expressed in excellent language. The inhabitants 
of the same towns met again at Leicester, December 27, 
1773, when other similar resolutions were passed, among 
which the following is selected. " Resolved, That we 
will not use any tea in our families, nor suffer any to be 
consumed therein, while loaded with a tribute contrary to 
our consent ; and that whoever shall sell any of that des- 
tructive herb, shall be deemed by us, inimical to the rights 
of his country, and as endeavoring to counteract the de- 
signs of those who are zealous for its true interests." A 
committee of fourteen was also chosen " for the inspection 
of any teas that may be sold or consumed," and to report 
the names of the offenders at the next meeting. This 
resolution was carried into the most rigid effect. No tea 
was drank or suffered to be drank among the people ; and 
the ladies being quite as patriotic as their husbands, agreed 
to dispense entirely, with the use of that "destructive 
herb " and if any frail sister was found to offend so far as 
privately to sip a little bohea, she was treated with scorn 
and neglect by all her acquaintances. 

During the year 1774, the inhabitants of the said towns 
of Leicester, Spencer and Paxton, met not less than five 
times in legal town meetings at Leicester, to take into con- 
sideration, as they express it, " the melancholy situation 
of our public affairs at this critical conjuncture." At the 



H I S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 35 

meeting May 23, Thomas Denny, was again chosen rep- 
resentative, and a committee, of whom Deacon OUver 
Watson and Lieut. Joshua Lamb, were from Spencer, 
were chosen to draft instructions. At the same meeting 
they chose tiie committees of correspondence in the several 
towns, delegates to a convention in Worcester, which met 
August 9, 1774, and continued by adjournment until May 
31, 1775. At their meeting July 6, a committee was cho- 
sen to prepare resolutions, expressing the sentiments of 
the people assembled. The committee were 

Thomas Denny, ^ 

Joseph Henshaw, > Leicester. 

Joseph Allen, ) 

James Draper, ) ^ 

Joseph Wilson, 5 

Oliver Witt, ) „ ^ 

Ralf Earle, > 

Their report commenced by saying that they were as- 
sembled " not tumultuously, riotously or seditiously, but 
soberly and seriously, as men, as freemen and as christians, 
to take into consideration the distressed situation of our 
affairs, fee." It presented a very able and luminous expo- 
sition of our situation with the mother country, accom- 
panied with several patriotic resolves, all of which was 
accepted by the meeting. Another meeting was had Sep- 
tember 29, and Thomas Denny was chosen a delegate to 
sit in Congress, which was holden at Salem, from Octo- 
ber 7, 1774, to December 10, of the same year. At 
another meeting. Col. Joseph Henshaw of Leicester was 
chosen a delegate in a Congress which met at Cambridge 
Feb. 1, 1775, and continued by adjournment to other 
towns until May 29, of the same year. At a subsequent 
meeting of the towns aforesaid, Deacon Oliver Watson of 
Spencer, was chosen a delegate to attend a Congress 
which was holden at Watertown, May 31, 1775, and M-as 



36 H IS TOR Y OF SPE NCE R. 

dissolved July 19, of the same year. During this time, 
with the exception of the meeting of the last mentioned 
Congress, hostilities had not commenced, nor had Ameri- 
can blood been spilt. But the ominous gathering of the 
clouds of war, drew nearer, and the people far from quail- 
ing or being dismayed with its frightful aspect, made vig- 
orous preparations to meet it. Arms and equipments and 
military stores of every description, were put in immedi- 
ate requisition, companies of men were enlisted to be 
ready at a minute's warning, and the public mind was in 
a state of the highest possible excitement. 

From this period, the inhabitants of Spencer, met only 
in their own town, and all their future transactions were 
done in their own individual capacity. In all their 
votes and proceedings, while passing throughout the per- 
ils and trials of the revolution, they were nearly unani- 
mous, there having never been found among them a single 
citizen meriting the name of tory. The town voted to 
pay their share of the expense of the several Congresses, 
and as Harrison Gray, Esq. the State Treasurer was a tory, 
they directed the constables to make their remittances 
of all the public taxes to Henry Gardner, Esqr. of Stow, 
and voted to indemnify them against all damage which 
might arise by so doing. Congress having recommended 
a non-importation of all goods and wares with Great Brit- 
ain ,• they chose John Cunningham, Oliver Watson and Asa 
Baldwin a committee to see it carried into complete effect. 
They also voted to raise fifty "effective men " immediately, 
and furnish them with blankets, equipments, &c. And 
as there was a large number of British troops quartered 
upon the inhabitants of Boston and Charlestown, they vo- 
ted that a subscription be raised for their relief. 

The eventful year of 1775 commenced, bringing with 
it, portentous signs of an approaching conflict, and events 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 37 

soon followed which sealed the destiny of the colonies. 
The town had raised a company of " minute men " who 
were placed under the command of Capt. Ebenezer Ma- 
son. These were directed to meet often to exercise and 
prepare themselves for military action. A town meeting 
was called to be holden on the 24th of April, to make pro- 
vision for the soldiers, should they be called into actual 
service by some emergency, which was highly probable, 
might soon happen. Before the day of meeting arrived, 
however, General Gage had sent a body of British troops to 
take possession of the military stores in Concord, and on 
their way, at Lexington, they fired upon the people there 
assembled, and eight American citizens were slain. After 
having a skirmish at Concord, they were repulsed and 
driven back to Boston with considerable loss. An alarm 
was immediately spread through the country like an elec- 
tric shock, the farmer left his plough in the furrow and 
the mechanic his tools upon the bench and there was an 
instantaneous gathering of the people to do whatever 
should be necessary to be done. The company of minute 
men buckled on their knapsacks, shouldered their muskets, 
and were immediately on their march, and although the 
town had not met to make provision for the exigency, yet 
the good wives of the soldiers, with the assistance of the 
selectmen of the town, furnishing them with a hasty and 
imperfect supply of provisions, they marched quickly to 
Cambridge. Finding the enemy disposed to remain in his 
strong hold for the present, part of them enlisted for eight 
months to be stationed in the vicinity of Boston, and the 
remainder returned home. On the 1 7th of June, the mem- 
orable battle of Bunker Hill was fought. A company, 
composed of soldiers from Leicester and Spencer, com- 
manded by Capt. Seth Washburn of Leicester, fought at 
this, battle ; Joseph Livermore from Spencer was Lieuten- 



38 H I S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 

ant. Anthony Sprague, Thomas Sprague, Jonas Lamb, 
Peter Rice and others from this town, were in the company. 
It is believed tliat no individual of this company is now 
living except the venerable Lieut. Nathan Crage of this 
town who now survives at nearly 87 years of age. 

This year, the town of Boston being occupied by Brit- 
ish troopSj the General Court held their sitting at Water- 
town. The inhabitants of this town were notified to 
meet in their own town July 17th, at one o'clock in the 
afternoon, to see if they would then proceed to Leicester, 
as the meeting in that town was held at three o'clock, to 
join in electing a representative, or otherwise to choose a 
representative for themselves. When the day of meeting 
arrived, the inhabitants decided, for the first time, to as- 
sume the right of an independent town and choose a rep- 
resentative for themselves, and Deacon Oliver Watson was 
elected to that office. 

During the whole series of the acts of British oppres- 
sion, for ten years commencing with the Stamp act, 1765, 
the colonies never represented as one cause of complaint, 
that they were subject to the government of Great Britain ; 
but when the Port of Boston was closed and the town 
besieged with an armed force ; after our citizens were cru- 
elly murdered at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, and 
the town of Charlestown was wantonly burnt, they began 
to think seriously of assuming the position of an indepen- 
dent nation. 

In anticipation of this, the town voted June 24, 1776, 
"that should Congress think it expedient to declare the 
Colonies independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, we 
do hereby, fully, freely and solemnly engage with our 
lives and fortunes, to support Congress in such a meas- 
ure ;" and they instructed Oliver Watson, who was their 
representative, this year also, to communicate the same to 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 39 

the General Court, and he was further instructed to use his 
influence to support the credit of the paper currency. 
The crisis, whicli for more than a year past, had been an- 
ticipated, was now arrived, and Congress, July 4, 1776, 
solemnly declared the Colonies to be free, Sovereign and 
Independent States. A copy of this was sent to all the 
towns, and the General Court ordered the same to be read 
in the several churches after divine service, and the town 
clerk to record this solemn manifesto in the town records, 
" there to remain as a perpetual memorial thereof," with 
all which, this town complied. 

In 1777, the General Court passed "an act to prevent 
monopoly and oppression," and the selectmen and commit- 
tee of safety in the several towns were directed to set a 
price upon all articles usually bought and sold, and none 
were allowed to exceed those prices. The following are 
the prices of some of those articles as fixed upon for this 
town, viz : A days work for a man in summer 3s., a days 
work for a yoke of oxen Is. 6d., a bushel of wheat 6s. , 
bushel of rye 4s., bushel of corn 3s., imported salt 13s. per 
bushel, salt made from sea water 14s. 6d. per bushel, char- 
coal 3d. per bushel, sheep's wool Is, lOd. per lb., cotton 
wool 3s. 8d. per lb., brown sugar 8s. per lb., coffee Is. 4d. 
per lb., molasses 4s. 6d. per gallon, a meal of victuals 9d., 
a night's lodging 3d., West India flip lid. per mug, New 
England flip 9d. per mug. 

Being called upon to furnish their quota of men to fill 
up the continental army, the town voted to allow £20, 
bounty to each man who should enlist for three years or 
during the war. The town was also called upon to fur- 
nish blankets, and one pair of shirts, stockings and other 
clothing at the rate of one sett for every male person in 
the town over 16 years of age. The General Court pass- 
ed another act, calling in four hundred thousand pounds 



40 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

of the State's outstanding debts, which were lying with- 
out interest, and ordered each town to raise its proportion 
of that sum and place the same on interest until paid. 
This distressed the minds of the people, as another large 
sum for Continental debts became due about the same 
time. They instructed their representatives, Oliver Wat- 
son and John Bisco, to use their influence that the act 
might be repealed. In this however, they were unsuc- 
cessful, and they raised their proportion by a tax, being 
nine hundred and ninety-one pounds seventeen shillings.* 
The success of the British arms, at the North, under 
General Burgoyne spread consternation and terror through- 
out New England, and every sixth man in the county of 
Worcester, capable of bearing arms, was drafted to join 
the Northern army. Companies of men, under the com- 
mand of Capt. Josiah White and Capt. David Prouty, a 
large proportion of whom, belonged to this town, went to 
Bennington and other places in that vicinity, to meet the 
invading foe, who by rapid marches, was passing through 
and ravaging our Northern borders. A battle was fought 
at Bennington under General Stark, which partly put a 
check to their depredations. And when the British forces 
reached Saratoga, an alarm was immediately sent through 
the country, and the people in Spencer like their brethren 
elsewhere, arose to arms, almost en masse, and marched 

* In making the valuation this year, the assessors were directed by 
the town to place the following value on the taxable property. Unim- 
proved land 20s. per acre, — Horse £7 — two year old colt £4 — yearling 
do £3 — spring colt £2-^ox £5 — cows and three years old steers £3 — two 
years old cattle £2 — yearling do. £1 — spring calves 10s. — Sheep 5s. — 
swine one year old £1 — Pigs 6s. — wheatSs. per bushel — rye 3s. 4d. — 
corn 2s. 6. — barley 2s. 6d. — oats Is. 3d. — beans 4s — potatoes 8d — cider 
3s. per barrel — flax 7d.per lb. — English hay£16s. Sd. perton — Mead- 
ow hay 13s. 4d. perton. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 41 

to the rescue, but a portion of them did not arrive until 
after the surrender of Burgoyne and his whole army. 

The town appointed a committee to ascertain what ser- 
vices each person had rendered towards the war, either by 
men, money or otherwise, since April 19, 1775, but the 
task proved so difficult that it was abandoned. 

January 5, 1778, the town voted to accept " the articles 
of perpetual union between the States" called the confed- 
eration, as proposed by Congress. The General Court 
having formed a constitution for the State of Massachu- 
setts, the town assembled May 20, to take it into consid- 
eration. It was rejected, there being not a solitary vote 
for its acceptance, and against it 102 votes. It was reject- 
ed throughout the State by a large majority. 

March 10, the town voted that the selectmen make 
provision for the families of the continental soldiers who 
were out in the service of their country. Seven men en- 
listed into the army for the term of nine months, and the 
sum of £30 was allowed as a bounty to each, amounting 
when paid, including the interest, to £219 9s. The se- 
lectmen were called upon by the State to provide thirty- 
seven pairs of shirts, shoes and stockings for the use of 
the army. 

1779, the town was called upon to furnish six soldiers 
to go to Rhode Island for six months. This requisition 
was granted, and the money voted to pay them for 
their services. Sixty pounds was also voted to provide 
for the families of the soldiers who were out in the pub- 
lic service. This year, a number of tories, who in the be- 
ginning of the revolution had fled from the country, to 
avoid the resentment of the people, had returned again, 
and the town of Boston sent circulars to the several towns, 
advising them of this fact. Thereupon, the town called 
a meeting to respond to the call from Boston. Resolutions 
6 



42 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

were passed declaring that " the town highly approve of 
the spirited conduct of the town of Boston, in their en- 
deavors to take up and secure such odious persons, who 
had the impudence to appear in that town, that they may 
be dealt with according to a good and wholesome law of 
this State ; that this town is in full sentiment with the 
town of Boston with respect to those professed enemies to 
the Rights and Liberties of Mankind ; and that we will 
to the utmost of our power, aid and assist the civil magis- 
trate in the execution of all laws made for the purpose of 
excluding all such hateful creatures from among us, &c." 
While we admire the devotedness of the patriots of the 
revolution to the sacred cause of liberty ; such entire de- 
votedness as we may never expect to witness again in this 
or any other country ; while we are astonished at the 
great sacrifices they made, and the fortitude with which 
they sustained their burthens and deprivations, such as 
were sufficient to overwhelm ordinary minds ; it is not 
surprising that they should be somewhat exasperated at 
those, who not only stood aloof from the work which de- 
manded the united aid of all hearts and hands, but oppos- 
ed all their patriotic exertions and cruelly mocked at 
their sufferings and derided their cause. Yet some of 
them were, undoubtedly, treated with too much severity. 
Many of these suspected persons were good citizens at 
heart and friends to their country, but who preferred wait- 
ing longer and were for trying further pacific measures 
before coming to actual hostilities with the mother coun- 
try. Perhaps they were inexcusable for their hesitation and 
timidity, but many of them were not intentionally, ene- 
mies to their country. This year the taxes and burthens 
of the war were so great that the town refused to grant 
any money for the support of schools or highways. The 
highway surveyors were directed to invite those within 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 43 

their limits to work on the highways as much as they 
were willing to do voluntarily, and no more. A commit- 
tee was chosen to provide for the families of the continen- 
tal soldiers. 

Deacon John Muzzy was chosen representative, and he 
was instructed " to use his best endeavors to support the 
credit of our currency, and not to give his consent to any 
act for making up the sink of money between debtor and 
creditor either public or private, soldiers and officers in 
the continental army excepted.''^ The town was called 
upon to furnish seven men for the continental army, and 
four men to go to Rhode Island. For paying these men 
and others who had been sent to guard the prisoners in 
Rutland, a tax of five thousand four hundred pounds was 
assessed upon the inhabitants. 

August 7, Deacon John Muzzy was chosen a delegate 
to attend a convention at Worcester " to act on business 
of importance," and the 17th of the same month, Maj. Asa 
Baldwin was chosen a delegate to attend a convention at 
Concord for regulating the prices of the necessaries of life. 
These conventions prepared a detailed statement of prices, 
with an address, which were sent to the several towns for 
approval.* 

Deacon John Bisco was chosen a delegate to attend a 
convention at Cambridge for forming a State Constitution. 

* The following prices will show the depreciation of the currency. 
A bushel of corn £3 12s., — rye £5 2s., — wheat £8 2s., — oats£l 16s., — 
barrel cider £4, — hay per cwt. £1 10s., — Labor in husbandry per day 
£2 14s., — women's labor week £2, — Beef, pound 53. 6d. — Mutton and 
veal 3s. 6d., — butter lis., — cheese 5s. 6d., wool £1 4s., — men's shoes, 
pair £6, — Stockings £3. 12s., — shirts tow cloth £4 17. 

At the close of the year 1779, a committee was appointed by the Mas- 
sachusetts line of the army to adjust and settle the accounts of the offi- 
cers and soldiers, with regard to the depreciation of the currency. 
This committee formed their scale of depreciation for three years upon 



44 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

1780. In the beginning of this year the currency be- 
came depreciated in the proportion of 40 to 1, and before 
the close of the year, as low as 240 to 1 ! The pressure 
was so heavy upon the people of this town that 41 persons 
were unable to pay their taxes for this and the last years, 
and they were abated by the town. 

A number of men were required in the service for six 
months, and the town voted that each soldier who enlisted 
should receive a bounty of one hundred dollars, to be paid 
at the rate of 3s. for corn, and 4s. for rye per bushel, or 
stock in that proportion. 

Oliver Watson chosen Representative. Agreeable to a 
resolve of the General Court, the town furnished 7150 lbs. 
beef, as a part of their quota for the army. Raised by a 
tax sixteen thousand pounds in the currency of the time, 
in part payment of what was then due for soldiers wages. 

May 22. The town assembled in legal meeting to take 
into consideration the constitution, or new form of gov- 
ernment for the Slate. All the articles received the ap- 
probation of the town with the exception of the 2d arti- 

the mean prices throughout the State, of beef, Indian corn, sheep's wool, 
and sole leather, as follows : 

1777. 1778. 1779. 



January 31st, 


1,03 fori 


4,64 


9,34 


February 


1,03 


4,80 


10,87 


March 


1,28 


5,19 


12,35 


April 


1,57 


5,80 


14,14 


May 


1,69 


5,91 


16,02 


June 


1,82 


6,34 


22,57 


July 


2,38 


6,30 


20,38 


August 


2,50 


6,90 


16,95 


September 


3,82 


6,90 


17,14 


October 


3,96 


6,97 


23,87 


November 


4,34 


7,47 


30,35 


December 


4,50 


8,38 


32,50 



Worcester Magazine, Page 135. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 45 

cle of section 3d of chapter 1st. They thought the pro- 
vision for representation to be unequal, and that those 
towns and plantations not having 150 rateable polls should 
have the privilege of uniting together, or with some adja- 
cent town, for the purpose of choosing a representative. 

September 4. The town assembled, for the first time, 
under the new constitution, for the election of State offi- 
cers, to serve until the next May. The whole number of 
votes were 69, all of which were for the Hon. John Han- 
cock. October 12, John Bisco was elected representative 
to serve until May. 

Agreeable to an order of the General Court, the town au- 
thorized the selectmen to hire money to purchase clothing 
and blankets for the soldiers. Forty-eight thousand, four 
hundred and fifty-six pounds was raised to pay soldiers, 
who were then in the service, some for six, and some for 
three months. 

October 17. The town was called together again to 
devise means to pay for beef for the army, and the sum of 
twelve thousand pounds was raised for that purpose, also, 
the sum of three thousand five hundred and sixty-five 
pounds, to provide horses for the use of the army. De- 
cember 28, another town meeting was called, on a requi- 
sition of the General Court, to provide 13,874 lbs. of beef 
for the soldiers. The town voted to provide the beef 
and raised £467 to pay for it ; also, the sum of £3,050, to 
hire fourteen men to serve for three years in the continen- 
tal army. The whole amount paid into the treasury of 
the town this year for various purposes, was £88,633 9s. 
It would be difficult at this time, to ascertain how much 
this would amount to, in hard money. It is probable, 
however, it was not less than four thousand dollars. 

1781, was a dark period in the American history. The 
British arms were almost every where successful ; Lord 



46 HISTORY OF SPENCER- 

Cornwallis, was overrunning the Southern States with 
feeble opposition ; the resources of the States were ex- 
hausted and paper money was so much depreciated as to 
become nearly worthless. In this critical period the town 
was again called upon to furnish more men and beef for 
the public service. In the warrant for calling a meeting 
June 20, they say *' Whereas, filling up and supplying the 
continental army is of the utmost importance at this crit- 
ical time, and the town being in danger of having execu- 
tions sent upon it both for their deficiencies in men and 
beef, and at present nothing will procure said men and 
beef, but hard money, Therefore, &c." They, however, 
voted to comply with the requisition, and raised the sum 
of four hundred and sixteen pounds, hard money, for said 
purposes, and chose a committee to hire the money. July 
23, the town being further called upon to furnish more 
soldiers, some to go to " head quarters" for 3 months, 
and others to go to Rhode Island for 5 months, and also, 
for more beef for the army, chose a committee to hire the 
soldiers and voted the sum of one hundred and twenty 
pounds hard money, to pay for the beef. At a subsequent 
meeting September 6, two hundred pounds, hard money, 
was voted for paying the soldiers. The assessors had 
made out lists of taxes for a part of the sums of money 
granted by the town, graduated in the paper currency, and 
committed them to the collectors. The town ordered the 
tax bills to be returned, and that the same, together with 
the remaining sums, be reduced to hard money currency, 
by the assessors, in new tax bills. 

The two last requisitions of beef from this town, 
amounted to 7090 lbs. and was furnished alive, the ani- 
mals being driven to the agent. This year closed bril- 
liantly, by the surrender of Cornwallis and his army to 
the American arms, which diffused great joy throughout 



H I S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 47 

the United Colonies, as the bright harbinger of peace, 
which was finally concUidecl in 1783. Although the war 
was virtually closed, the town was called upon in March, 
1782, for their quota of soldiers to enlist for the term of 
three years, which was the last requisition made upon the 
town, specifically, until the army was disbanded.* 

SHAY'S INSURRECTION. 

The American Revolution originated, not so much by 
actual oppression, or insupportable burthens thrown upon 
the Colonies by the mother country, as by a series of acts, 
tending ultimately, as they believed, to undermine their 
liberties, and subject them to the entire control of Great 
Britain. Massachusetts was the first to resist these meas- 
ures — the first to souiid the alarm to her sister colonies ; 
she led the way, and was the foremost in devising ways 
and means and furnishing men and money throughout the 
whole contest. By thus devoting her whole moral and 
physical powers to the cause of freedom, her resources be- 
came exhausted, and at the close of the revolution, she 
found herself, together with the towns and the whole peo- 
ple, loaded with an enormous weight of public and private 
debts. Paper money, which was nearly the whole cur- 
rency, had depreciated until it was of no value, and credit 
was nearly as low as paper money, and to crown the cli- 
max, the legislature of Massachusetts very unwisely un- 
dertook to provide funds for extinguishing the whole 

■"It ought to be borne in mind, that our records show but a small pro- 
portion of the officers and soldiers, who went from this town, and served 
in the war of the revolution. Much the largest proportion served by 
voluntary enlistment, and only those whom the town furnished by spe- 
cial requisition from the General Court or from Congress, appear on the 
town records. The company and regimental returns being at Wash- 
ington, there is no meansat hand to ascertain the whole number. 



48 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

amount of her debt, in a much shorter period than circum- 
stances would warrant, by laying taxes on the people. 

As early as 1782, signs of discontent began to be visi- 
ble, which were soon followed by open complaints and 
loud murmurs. As the good people of this town experi- 
enced their share of the general pressure, they very natur- 
ally united in the general discontent. The General 
Court had passed an act for making a general valuation of 
the taxable property of the people, and another act levying 
an excise or duty on several articles of trade. These acts 
produced dissatisfaction, and they were thought to inter- 
fere with their rights ; were unequal and unjust. A remon- 
strance was sent to John Bisco, Esq., their representative, 
to present to the General Court, requesting those acts to be 
repealed, or otherwise " redress grievances too palpable to 
be denied and too great to be borne." 

A circular was sent to the several towns in the county 
of Worcester to send delegates to a convention to be held 
at Worcester " to take into consideration the many griev- 
ances the good people of this Commonwealth labor un- 
der." The town chose Mr. Isaac Jenks a delegate to at- 
tend said convention. They met on the 14th of April, 
and again by adjournment, in May, of the same year. 
The convention reported a list of grievances, which were 
sent to the several towns. Mr. Isaac Jenks was chosen 
representative, and he was instructed to urge upon the 
General Court, the adoption, generally, of the articles of 
reform recommended by the convention. He was also 
instructed to procure laws to be passed, that no suit should 
be commenced without previously giving notice to the 
debtor ; that State notes and certificates be made a tender 
for all debts on executions ; that all property attached for 
debt, whether real or personal, should be appraised to the 
creditor to satisfy his debt, &c. In 1784, the town was 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 49 

indebted to the State for two year's delinquent taxes, and 
executions were issued against all the constables for the 
same. A circular was received from Willis Hall, modera- 
tor of a town meeting in Sutton, recommending another 
convention to be held at Worcester, March IGth, 1784. 
A town meeting was called and Deacon Oliver Watson 
was chosen delegate. This convention, also, reported 
another list of grievances, one of which was, that the im- 
post was granted to Congress for twenty-five years. This 
report was laid before the town by their delegate, the 
town approved of it, and instructed their representative to 
lay the same before the General Court. The pressure 
now became exceedingly heavy and the prospect appeared 
ominous. A large State tax was laid, to meet a requisi- 
tion from Congress, and the town was still in arrear for 
past taxes. 

In this situation, a town meeting was called November 
9, 1785, and the town voted to send a petition to the Gen- 
eral Court asking for a redress of grievances. In this pe- 
tition they say. among other things, that the town is deep- 
ly in debt for hiring soldiers and procuring beef for the 
army ; private contracts pressing — no cash, property sold 
for less than half of its value on execution, &c. and they 
pray that a bank of paper money may be established, or 
that property may be made a tender for payment of debts. 

June 8, 178G, a special town-meeting was called " to 
see if the town will take into consideration the present 
distress of the good people of this commonwealth, occa- 
sioned for want of a circulating medium to satisfy the de- 
mands now called for." At this meeting a committee was 
chosen and directed to send circulars to other towns 
in the county for another convention, to " consider the 
present distresses, &c." This committee consisting of 
Deacon Oliver Watson, Capt. Joshua Draper, Asa Sprague, 
7 



50 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

John Sumner and Benjamin Bemis, Jun. notified a conven- 
tion to be held at Leicester June 26, 1786. Mr. John 
Sumner was chosen a delegate. Delegates from seven- 
teen towns only met, and they adjourned to August 15th. 
In the mean time another town-meeting was called and 
Col. Benjamin Bemis was chosen as additional delegate. 
The delegates were instructed to use their best endeavors 
to obtain "a hank oi paper money , " &c. The legislature 
however, were wise enough and firm enough to decline 
granting their request. Another town-meeting was called 
to petition the General Court for a hank, &c., they also 
voted to send a petition to the Court of Common Pleas, to 
adjourn all suits from June to September, without giving 
judgment in any case. The town approved of the doings 
of the last convention, who reported a farther list of griev- 
ances, one of which was, the existence of the judicial 
courts !* 

The public mind became now highly inflamed and the 
voice of discontent was raised to the highest pitch, and a 
large majority of the inhabitants of this town were united 
in sentiment and in action with the malcontents. Some 
of the greatest alleged causes of complaint and irritation 
among the people were, the high salaries of public officers ; 
the fees of lawyers and sheriffs ; the frequent suits at law 
and the consequent costs of court. These were consid- 
ered grievances of an enormous and oppressive character. 
In spite, however, of the remonstrances, the clamors and 
threats of the people, the courts continued to entertain all 
actions for the recovery of debts, and to issue executions 
as usual.f 

* March 22, 1786. It was voted to pawn their " State securities " for 
money to discharge executions, from the state against the town. 

fin 1784, more than two thousand actions were entered in the coun- 
ty of Worcester, then having a population less than 50,000, and in 1785, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 61 

As the courts declined suspending judgments and exe- 
cutions on suits for the collection of debts, the malcon- 
tents formed the rash and desperate resolution of taking the 
law into their own hands ; to stop the sittings of the courts 
by force and violence and thus prevent the issuing of any 
executions. Accordingly, at the time for the session of 
the court of common pleas in September, 1786, consider- 
able numbers of the people from most of the towns in the 
county, assembled at Worcester, consisting of about 400 
men, and about one half of them armed. They succeed- 
ed in preventing the sitting of the court ; no business was 
done, and the court adjourned and continued all actions to 
December. At the term in December, the rising of the 
people became more general. Armed companies from 
Ward, Holden, Spencer, Rutland, Barre, Petersham, Pax- 
ton, Grafton and other towns, marched in hostile array to 
Worcester. Detachments, from Shrewsbury, Hardwick, 
Princeton, Hubbardston, Leicester and other towns joined 
them, and the whole number armed and unarmed, proba- 
bly exceeded 2000 men, all either actively engaged, or 
aiding and abetting the insurgents. The company that 
marched from this town, was armed and equipped with 

about 1700. Lands and goods were seized and sacrificed on sale, 
■when the general difficulties drove away purchasers. Lincoln's History 
of Worcester. Page 131. 

The courts had become so odious to the people of Spencer, that they 
presented a petition to the legislature, January 1, 1787, praying that the 
•' courts may be abolished, " declaring that they " conceived their exis- 
tence to be a great and unnecessary burthen upon the people !" At this 
time it is said, that the offices of Levi Lincoln, senior, of Worcester, 
Dwight Foster of Brookfield and John Sprague of Lancaster, being the 
principal lawyers in the county, were thronged every day with suitors, 
andpresented the appearance of some public day, when there is a gath- 
ering of the people, the door-yards of their offices and adjoining fences, 
being lined with horses and carriages of unfortunate debtors, and of 
not much less unfortunate creditors. 



52 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

powder and ball, ready to do the deadly work, if necessary. 
In this company were several veterans of the revolution, 
who still fancied they were engaged in the defence of 
their liberties ! The court were again overawed and 
again adjourned without doing any business, agreeable to 
the direction of the general court, to the 23d of January 
1787, at which time, government sent on armed forces to 
protect the sitting of the court, and they proceeded unmo- 
lested to transact the usual business. 

During the winter, however, parties of the insurgents 
under the command of Shays, Wheeler, Day and other 
leaders, traversed various parts of this and the other west- 
ern counties, to overawe the peaceable and loyal inhabi- 
tants of the state. For this purpose, a company of about 
200 insurgents assembed at New Braintree, on the second 
day of February, one of whom, was David May of this 
town. About twenty horsemen and 150 infantry in 
sleighs were sent to dislodge them. They were fired up- 
on by the insurgents, and Doct. David Young and another 
person was wounded. Young afterwards commenced an 
action against May, and recovered large damages, which 
exhausted his whole property in satisfying. The insur- 
rection was finally quelled with but little bloodshed. 
Two or three commissioned officers of the militia in this 
town were temporarily disqualified, and all who arose trea- 
sonably against government, were ordered to take the 
oath of allegiance before John Bisco, Esq. and surrender 
their fire arms to his keeping during the pleasure of gov- 
ernment. 

Many of the insurgents were imprisoned in different 
parts of the commonwealth, and this town petitioned Gov- 
ernor Bowdoin that they might be pardoned and set at 
liberty. They also sent a petition to the General Court 
to pass a general act of indemnity, and suspend the action 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 63 

of the courts until after the election. The day of election 
came and Governor Bowdoin was superseded by Gover- 
nor Hancock. The votes in this town were, for Hancock 
87, for Bowdoin 7.* Henry Gale of Princeton, one of the 
leaders of the insurgents, was tried for high treason and 
sentenced to be executed. A special town meeting was 
called and a petition was sent to Governor Hancock for 
his pardon : other towns did the same. He was brought 
out to the gallows for execution, where he was reprieved 
and afterwards pardoned. 

During the reign of terror, when the law was almost 
prostrate and the arm of government paralyzed, Abijah 
Livermore and six others of the inhabitants of Spencer, 
broke open the town's magazine and took away the entire 
stock of powder, balls, &c. After peace was restored and 
the law once more triumphant, Mr. Livermore and three 
of his companions, made a humble confession to the town, 
which was put on record, and no farther notice was taken 
of the matter.f 

Having brought the civil history of the town down to 
1788, within the memory of many of the inhabitants now- 
living, and nearly to the time when the United States 
government went into operation under the present consti- 
tution ; a farther continuation of this subject will not be 
attempted at this time. Only a few insulated and discon- 
nected memoranda will be added. 

Before doing this however, it may be proper to give a 
description of the town, the people, their manners, &,c. at 

* James Hathaway "was elected representative this year. A commit- 
tee was appointed to draft instructions for him. In commencing their 
instructions they say, " It is a day of public distress and trouble, and 
dark clouds hang over this commonwealth." 

t See Minot's history of the insurrection, and Lincoln's history of 
Worcester. 



64 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

that period. As more than half a century has since gone 
" with the years beyond the flood " and with it most of 
the inhabitants, who then occupied our places. It may be 
useful to the present generation, that they may thus be 
enabled to compare and appreciate their own pleasant hab- 
itations and circumstances, with that of their fathers. 

The highways were then intolerable. The great Post 
Road, by far the best in the country, and which has since 
experienced so many straightenings and levellings, was 
then so rough and hilly, that it was only competent for a 
team of four horses to transport the weight of one ton to 
Boston and return with the same weight in one week ! 
Now, the same team will easily transport thrice the 
amount of weight, over the same road, within half the 
time. Our town roads were mere single tracks, just wide 
enough for the passage of a pair of wheels, and without 
any turnouts ; for the chief instruments in repairing the 
roads, were the cart and the iron bar ; the plough, now 
considered indispensable on the highway, was then never 
used for that purpose ; and what rocks could not be re- 
moved with the iron bar alone, stood their ground in what- 
ever part of the road they happened to be located, bidding 
defiance to the horses' hoofs or the wheels of the carriages ; 
for the use of gun powder in removing rocks was then 
unpractised and unknown. It is probable that not more 
than two thirds of the land was under cultivation, and the 
other third in its primeval state. The dwelling houses 
were mostly of one story in height, and not half a dozen 
in town were painted. As for a chaise or other pleasure 
carriage, there was scarce one in town, and the only loco- 
motive to transport a family to meeting, was a horse, sad- 
dle and pillion. With this accommodation, the good man, 
on a Sunday morning, would mount the saddle, taking a 
little one before him, and his wife on the pillion behind, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 55 

and trudge along five miles to meeting without a murmur ; 
while his barefooted children in their homespun, would 
walk cheerfully the same distance. During the interval 
between the services, the young lads and lasses, with 
cheerful countenances and sparkling eyes, were collected 
in the gallery pews, engaged in happy conversation, the 
old ladies, in groups below, were no less engaged in low, 
murmuring voices, scarce above a whisper, and the old 
men, in companies, sat upon the grass under the shade of 
trees, which then grew on the common, were discoursing 
of the sermon and hard times, while munching their bread 
and cheese. That part of the public common, west of the 
meeting house, was then limited to a space of about five 
or six rods square, and on this place was located the town's 
pound, seven or eight horse stables, the town stocks, and 
a fixture somewhat resembling a public stage or rostrum, 
but now obsolete, and in common parlance called a horse- 
llock. A similar structure stood at the east end of the 
meeting house. At the close of the religious services, and 
after the town-clerk had verbally given notice, to the re- 
tiring congregation, of those who were about to enter the 
state of matrimony ; then might be seen, standing erect 
on those fixtures, the ancient dames and the damsels, 
awaiting their turns to vault upon their saddles or pillions, 
while the shrill neighings of the numerous young colts in 
attendance, mingled with the responsive calls of their 
dams, added pastoral music to the scene. 

There were then but three houses in what now consti- 
tutes the lower village, and these stood in juxtaposition, 
and were all taverns, viz : the house kept by Capt. Eben- 
ezer Mason, now owned by his grandson, Joseph Mason, 
the one kept by Mr. Isaac Jenks, now kept by E. B. Dra- 
per, and one kept by Mr. James Livermore, on the site of 
Amos Brown's. These have irreverently been compared 



66 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

to the three taverns alkided to by St. Paul, when he 
" thanked God and took courage." In what is now the 
upper village there were but two houses, viz: the Rev. 
Mr. Pope's and Mr. Josiah Gary's, now occupied by Mr. 
Amasa Bemis. A school house stood on what now con- 
stitutes the western part of the common. The house 
now owned by Lemuel Smith, was then owned by Mr. 
Jeremiah Whittemore and occupied as a tavern. The only 
stores, was one kept by Josiah Gary and a small grocery 
in the South part of the town, owned by David Wilson. 

A French gentleman, M. DeWarville, travelled through 
the States, for the sole purpose of seeing the country 
and observing the habits and manners, of the inhabi- 
tants. After his return to France he published an ac- 
count of his travels, which was translated and published 
in this country. He landed in Boston, July 30^ 1788. 
His first journey was to New York, by land. A new 
line of stages had just been estabUshed by Pease and 
Sikes, by way of Spencer, and in the summer season, the 
journey was performed in four days.* This journey 
was commenced in the stage August 9. It is presumed 
the following extract from his book of travels, though 
somewhat long, will not be found to be uninteresting. Af- 
ter giving a short description of his journey to Worcester, 
he proceeds. 

" We slept the first night in Spencer, a new village in 
the midst of the woods. The house of the tavern was 
but half built ; but the part that was finished, had an air 
of cleanliness which pleases, because it announces that de- 
gree of competence, those moral and delicate habits, which 
are never seen in our villages. The chambers were neat, 
the beds good, the sheets clean, the supper passable ; ci- 

* The journey from Boston to New York, is now easily performed by 
steam, in fifteen hours. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 67 

der, tea, punch, and all for fourteen pence a head. There 
were four of us. Now compare this order of things with 
our French taverns — chambers dirty and hideous, beds 
infected with bugs, those insects which Sterne calls the 
rightful inhabitants of taverns, if indeed long possession 
gives a right; sheets ill washed and exhaling a foetid odour, 
bad covering, and wine adulterated, and every thing at 
its weight in gold ; greedy servants, who are complaisant 
only in proportion to your equipage ; grovelling towards 
a rich traveller and insolent towards him whom they 
suspect of mediocrity. Such are the eternal torments 
in France : add to this the fear of being robbed, the precau- 
tions necessary to be taken every niglit to prevent it ; while 
in the United States, you travel without fear and with- 
out arms, and you sleep quietly among the woods, in an o- 
pen chamber of a house whose doors shut without locks, and 
now judge which country merits the name of civilized, 
and which bears the aspect of the greatest general happiness. 

" We left Spencer at four o'clock in the morning. New 
carriage, new proprietor. It was a carriage without 
springs, a kind of waggon. A Frenchman who was with 
me, began, at the first jolt, to curse the carriage, the driv- 
er and the country. Let us wait, said I, a little, before 
we form a judgment ; every custom has its cause, there 
is doubtless some reason why this kind of carriage is pre- 
ferred to one hung on springs. In fact, by tiie time we 
had run thirty miles among the rocks, we were convinced 
that a carriage with springs would very soon have been 
overset and broke. 

"The traveller is well recompensed for the fatigue of 
this route, by the variety of romantic situations, by the 
beauty of the prospects which it offers at each step, by 
the perpetual contrast of nature, and the etlorts of art. 
Those vast ponds of water, which lose themselves in the 
8 



58 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

woods ; those rivulets, that wash the meadow, newly 
snatched from uncultivated nature ; those neat houses 
scattered among the forests, and containing swarms of 
children joyous and healthy, and well clad ; those fields 
covered with trunks of trees, whose destruction is commit- 
ted to the hand of time, and which are covered under the 
leaves of the Indian corn ; those oaks, which preserve still 
the image of their ancient vigor, but which, girdled at 
the bottom, raise no longer to heaven but dry and naked 
branches, which, the first stroke of wind must bring to the 
earth ; all these objects, so new to an European, arrest 
him, absorb him, and plunge him into an agreeable reverie. 
The depths of the forests, the prodigious height and size of 
the trees, call to mind the time when the savages were the 
only inhabitants of this country. This ancient tree has be- 
held them ; they filled these forests ; they have now given 
place to another generation. The cultivator fears no more 
their vengeance, his musket, formerly his necessary com- 
panion at the plough, now rests suspended in his house. 
Alone, with his wife and children, in the midst of the 
forests, he sleeps quietly, he labors in peace, and he is 
happy. Such were the ideas which occupied me the 
greater part of my journey ; they sometimes gave place to 
others, arising from the view of the country houses, which 
are seen at small distances through all the forests of Mas- 
sachusetts. Neatness embellishes them all. They have 
frequently but one story and a garret ; their walls are pa- 
pered ; tea and coffee appear on their tables ; their daugh- 
ters, clothed in calicoes, display the traits of civility, frank- 
ness and decency ; virtues which always follow content- 
ment and ease. Almost all these houses are inhabited by 
men who are both cultivators and artisans ; one is a tan- 
ner, another is a shoemaker, another sells goods; but all 
are farmers. The country stores are well assorted ; you 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 59 

find in the same shop, hats, nails, liquors. This order of 
things is necessary ina new settlement ; it is to be hoped 
it will continue, for this general retail occupies less hands 
and detaches fewer from the great object of agriculture. 
It is not supposed that one third of the land of Massachu- 
setts is under cultivation, and it is difficult to say when it 
will be so, considering the invitations of the Western 
country and the province of Maine. But the uncleared 
lands are all located, and the i)roprietors have enclosed 
them with fences of different sorts. These several kinds 
of fences are composed of different materials, which an- 
nounce the different degrees of culture in the country. 
Some are composed of the light branches of trees ; others 
of the trunks of trees laid one upon the other ; a third sort 
is made of long pieces of wood, supporting each other by 
making angles at the end ; a fourth kind is made of long 
pieces of hewn timber, supported at the ends by passing 
into holes made in an upright post ; a fifth is like the gar- 
den fences in England ; the last kind is stones thrown to- 
gether to the height of three feet. This last is most du- 
rable, and is common in Massachusetts. 

" From Spencer to Brookfield the road is good as far 
as the last town. The situation of Brookfield is pictur- 
esque. While breakfast was preparing, I read the Ga- 
zettes and Journals, which are distributed through all the 
country. Our breakfast consisted of coffee, tea, boiled 
and roasted meat ; the whole for ten pence, New Eng- 
land currency, for each traveller. From this place to 
Wilbraham the road is covered with rocks, and bordered 
with woods." 

This tavern house in Spencer " half built" situated in a 
" new village in the midst of the woods" was none other 
than Jenks's tavern, which was at that time, being repaired. 
At this time, it is beheved, there was no post office be- 



60 H I S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 

tween Boston and Springfield, excepting Worcester. 
Since 1788, what changes have taken place ! the genera- 
tion then in existence and in active life, have nearly all 
disappeared. We, a new generation, have succeeded to 
their places, and are also, fast disappearing. But very few 
houses, which were then standing, but what have given 
place to other and better ones, or undergone a radical 
change. 

*' Through devious ways, and paths unknown, 

Through forests dark and drear, 
Our fathers sought these mountain streams, 

To plant their offspring here. 

*' Through years of toil, through years of want. 

They bravely struggled on ; 
And lo ! the forest melts away ; 

The sturdy oaks are gone. 

" Their names are left for us to bear ; 

Their spirits, they are fled; 
On yonder hill their bones repose, 

Among the slumbering dead." 

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND MEMORANDA. SIN- 
GULAR VOTES, &c. 

March 27, 1729. The town of Leicester voted to allow 
three pence for each rattlesnake killed within the limits of 
the town. 

October 29. The Great Earthquake, so called, being 
the most remarkable that ever happened in New England. 
In the county of Essex, the earth burst open in many pla- 
ces, from which were thrown vast quantities of earth and 
stones. 

1732. The town was presented at the quarter sessions 
in Worcester, for want of a standard of weights and meas- 
ures. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 61 

1735. Jonathan Sargent was allowed by the town, 
thirty pounds, three shillings, and nine pence for provid- 
ing a dinner for " six Worcester gentlemen that came as 
mediators between Mr. Parsons and the town." 

January 11, 1737. Banjamin Richardson was allowed 
eleven shillings for kilhng twenty-eight rattlesnakes. 

1740. Voted, to allow six pence per head for killing 
grey and red squirrels and rattlesnakes, three pence per 
head for killing jays, red-headed wood-peckers and black- 
birds. Whole amount allowed for killing these animals 
this year was £41 Os. 3d. divided among 63 claimants. 
Jonathan Witt received £5 15s. 9d. Thomas Smith £4 
Is. 3d. &c. 

Voted, Andrew Lockers rates be given him the year he 
had his house burnt. 

The town was again presented for want of a standard 
of weights and measures. 

1744. The selectmen of Leicester were directed by 
the town to lay out a road for the accommodation of Jona- 
than Tucker who lived in the South Gore, that he might 
" go to meeting and market, as others of the King^s sub- 
jects do." 

1745. In locating a highway, the selectmen report, that 
they commenced the same ''- near Doct. Green's wolfpitt." 

November 18, 1755. Another fmemorable earthquake 
in New England ; in many places stone walls were thrown 
down, and tops of chimnies shaken off. 

1759. The town of Spencer, by leave of the General 
Court, sold their ministerial and school land. The former 
containing 105 acres and 108 rods, was sold for $336,67, 
the school land containing 109 acres, was sold for $436, 

October 26, 1765. A snow storm commenced in the 
evening and continued through the night, and next mor- 



62 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

ning it was estimated to be more than two feet in depth, 
on a level. 

March 1, 1779. Maj. Asa Baldwin, Capt. Ebenezer Ma- 
son and Lieut. Benjamin Bemis, chosen " Inspectors of 
the market'^ agreeable to a then late law. 

March 6, 1780. Jonas IjemiWSenior and Isaac Jenks 
being chosen constables, each paid at the time, into the 
hands of the Moderator, forty pounds, as a fine for declin- 
ing to serve in the office, and were then excused by the 
town. 

1784. At the annual meeting in March, Voted " that 
each person keep on his hat, if he pleases while in the 
meeting." 

1791. ''Voted, to take fifteen shillings on the pound 
for what the State owes the town." 

1794. Congress made a requisition upon the several 
states for a large body of the militia to be enlisted, and 
be ready to march at a minute's warning, this town's quota 
being thirty-eight : they were to be allowed $6,67 per 
month, when called into actual service. The town voted 
to allow two dollars bounty to each who should enlist, 
and make up their monthly wages to ten dollars, should 
they be called upon to march. The whole number enlist- 
ed voluntarily, and the town paid each his bounty. They 
were not called upon for further service. Agreeable to a 
resolve of the General Court, the town employed John 
Sumner to survey the town and make a plan of the same. 

1795. Agreeable to a provision in the constitution of 
this state, the town was called upon to express their opin- 
ion upon the expediency of revising that instrument. 
There were in the affirmative 10 votes, in the negative 
66. 

Feb. 1837. The Woolen Factory of Amos Brown & 
Co. was burned. Damage ^14,000, fully ensured. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 63 

1839. The Satinet Factory of Chapin and Prouty, was 
destroyed by fire. 

April 21, 1840. A powder Mill owned by Lewis Be- 
mis and EdAvard Hall, was blown up, killing instantly 
three persons, viz. Lyman Bullard, Abijah Bemis and 
Francis Burrows. "* 

April 25. A large fire in the lower village. The dwell- 
ing house and barn of David Gates, a large building, con- 
taining a carpenter, wheelwright and blacksmith shop, and 
tannery of Samuel Barnes were consumed. Only a tri- 
fling insurance. 

October 13. Another powder mill belonging to Bemis 
and Hall blown up. No lives lost. Damage about 
$2,000. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first notice of a school, on record, in the town of 
Leicester, is 1731, when the town voted " to provide a 
school master to Reed and Wright to be kept three months 
in three parts of the town." The next year there was no 
school and the town was presented at the quarter sessions 
for the neglect. The first school house was built in 1736,* 
but it seems there was no school kept in it, for the next 
year, they were again presented for want of a school. In 
1738, they probably avoided an indictment, as the records 
say, Joshua Nichols was allowed £2 lis. 8d. "for keep- 
ing school ten days and for answering for school master 
last summer^'''' but in 1740, the town was again indicted 
for the same neglect, and paid £4 12s. as costs of court. 

The population of the Westerly part of the town (Spen- 

* This school house was 20 feet long-, 16 feet wide, and 6 1-2 feet be- 
tween the floors, and was set near where the present meeting house 
stands. 



64 HISTORYOFSPENCER, 

cer) then probably contained between 200 and 300 per- 
sons, and although they were taxed and paid their propor- 
tion of all town charges, yet no provision had been 
made for a school there.* The reason probably was, that 
the population was so sparse, that a school would be of 
very little benefit. In 1741, the inhabitants of the West- 
erly part petitioned to be exempted from paying taxes for 
schools and the minister, but their request was not grant- 
ed, and this state of things continued until 1748, when 
the town " voted to have 10 weeks schooling in the West 
Precinct." For three years there was no further school- 
ing, when in 1751, three schools were established there, 
" to be kept six weeks, and to be removed twice." 

After Spencer was incorporated as a town, and could 
act independently, no provision was made for schools, for 
the two first years, 175.5, sixteen pounds, and 1756, 
twenty pounds, were raised for schools. This year when 
application was made to build one or more school houses, 
the vote was in the negative. f 1757, a school was kept 
nine months. 1761, a school kept ten months by three 
school masters. 1766, the town was divided into six dis- 
tricts, and the next year a school was kept in each district. 
1768, voted to build a school house in each district. 
Some years afterwards, a new division was made, and 
ten districts, the present number, were made, and 1786, 
ten school houses were ordered to be built, one in each 
district. For several years previous to 1805, the sum of 
500 dollars, annually was raised and appropriated for the 
support of schools. Since that period not less than 600 

* The taxes derived from this part of the town were considerahle, as 
all the lands, (20,000 acres) whether belonging to non-residents or oth- 
ers, together with the polls and personal estates of the settlers, were 
assessed and the avails paid into the town treasury. 

t At the same meeting " voted to provide stocks as the law directs." 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 65 

dollars, and sometimes 700, or 800 dollars has been raised, 
annually for the same object. Add to this, the trifling 
sum of 26 dollars, for 80 years, as the interest of the avails 
of the school land which was sold, and for the years 1837, 
38, and 39, one hundred and fourteen dollars further was 
added. 

For several years past, a high school has been kept for 
part of each year, supported by voluntary contributions, 
and numerous primary schools, taught by females, are 
kept in the intermission, between the town schools, sup- 
ported also, by private subscription. 

ROADS. 

The Great Post Road, anciently called the " Country 
Road," was formerly an avenue of great importance, and 
was the great thorough-fare from Boston to New- York. 
The route was from Boston, by the way of Marlborough to 
Worcester, thence through Spencer to Springfield, thence 
down Connecticut river to Hartford, thence by the way of 
New Haven to New York. This road was not located by 
any legal authority until many years after the traveller or 
wayfaring man passed through this region. The first set- 
tlers of Massachusetts, had not migrated Westerly of Wa- 
tertown, until January 27, 1632, On that day Gov. Win- 
throp and others went up Charles river about eight miles, 
and from an eminence they discovered a high hill, about 
40 miles distant, which is supposed to be Wachusetts.* 
This is the earliest notice taken of any of this part of the 
country by the earliest historians of New England. But no 
attempt is known to have been made to penetrate any farther 
into the country until November 15, 1635.f Then a com- 

* Savage's Winthrop, Vol. 1, Page 68. 

t Doct. Harris, in his history of Dorchester says, that Mr. Oldbam 
and some others in 1G33, travelled from Dorchester through the wilder- 

9 



66 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

pany of about sixty men, women and children, with their 
cows, horses and swine, went from Dorchester by land to 
Windsor in Connecticut, to commence a settlement there.* 
This must have been a tedious and difficult journey. 
Hutchinson f says, " it was near a fortnight's journey, hav- 
ing no pillows but Jacob's, and no canopy but the Heavens ; 
a wilderness to go through, without the least cultivation ; 
in most places, no path nor any marks to guide them, de- 
pending upon the compass to steer by. Many hideous 
swamps, and very high mountains, besides five or six 
rivers, or different parts of the same winding river (Chic- 
opee) not every where fordable, which they could not 
avoid." It is probable that they past through, or near 
this town ; because, taking a direct course, by the com- 
pass, until striking the Chicopee river, they must have 
passed near here. Although the intercourse between Bos- 
ton and Connecticut was mostly by water, yet every year 
after this, more or less people passed from one to the other 
place, by land. As this company must have left some 
landmarks on their route, succeeding travellers would be 
apt to be guided on the same route, until at length, a visi- 
ble track or trail would be made. As the tide of emigra- 
tion continued to set into the country further west, 
buildings and fences would be erected on these tracks, un- 
til ultimately they became roads. In 1648, says Win- 
throp, " a new way was found out to Connecticut by 
Nashua, avoiding much of the hilly way."| This must 
have been a circuitous route, passing by the way of Lan- 

ress to Connecticut to view the country and trade with the Indians. 
They brought back such a flattering report, that it determined many of 
the Dorchester people to remove thither. 

•*■ Savage's Winthrop, Vol. 1, Page 171. 

t Hutchinson, Vol. 1, Page 48. 

X Winthrop, Vol. 2, Page 325. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 67 

caster and then probably, to Worcester. Another way 
was, to pass through the Southerly part of Northborough, 
thence to Westborough and Grafton. This has since been 
called the " old Connecticut Road." Afterwards, it was 
varied, or rather a new way was found. Coming from 
Marlborough, it passed through the centre of Northborough, 
thence through Shrewsbury, Worcester, Leicester, Spencer 
to Brookfield, on or near the line of the present road. 
This was called the " new Connecticut road," from Marl- 
borough to Worcester, and from Worcester to Brookfield 
the " country road." This last route, was merely a path 
cut through the woods, and practicable only for passengers 
on foot, or with horses, and was travelled as early as 1674, 
at which time there was not a single habitation on it, be- 
tween Marlborough and Brookfield, except a few log 
houses in Worcester.* It had no definite location through 
this town, as late as 1722, for the town of Leicester, this 
year, voted that " the selectmen make application to the 
quarter sessions at Cambridge, to have the country road 
laid out through this town." The application was not 
successful, and the next year, a similar vote was passed. 
When it was located is not now known, but in 1725, the 
town was presented at the sessions for want of a bridge 
over Seven Mile river. The road then passed the river 
by a fordway, a few rods North of the present bridge. 
The location, however, was made previous to 1728, as 
the town that year raised a tax of £12 2s. 5d. to defray 
their proportion of the expense for its location. In 1729, 
the first bridge was built over the river, the town having 
been again presented or indicted, for the want of one. 
Recently, the towns through which this road passes, have 

* Worcester Magazine, Vol. 2, Page 152. Lincoln's History of \Vor» 
cester, Page 12. 



68 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

made many valuable improvements and alterations, to ac- 
commodate the great amount of travel which passed over 
it, and which had been gradually increasing for more than 
a century, but the opening of the Western Rail Road, has 
deprived it of a large proportion of its business. 

The Western Rail Road passes through the Southwest 
corner of Spencer, more than two miles from the centre. 
A depot, for the accommodation of passengers and freight, 
is established upon it. About three miles of this Rail 
Road, is located within the limits of this town. 

The county road from Sturbridge to Worcester, called 
the South County Road, was located through this town, 
on the petition of John Newhall of Spencer, and others, 
in 1756. Previous to the establishment of the Stafford 
Turnpike, considerable travel passed upon it, but since 
that period, it has decreased, until the public travel has 
become nearly extinct. 

The county road from Hardwick to Worcester, called 
the North County road, was located in 1757, on the peti- 
tion of the celebrated Brigadier Timothy Ruggles of 
Hardwick, he being at that time, one of the Judges of 
the Court of Common Pleas, and General Sessions for the 
county of Worcester. In 1830, a new county road was 
made, commencing at North Spencer, and passing through 
the centre of Paxton to Worcester. On this route, two 
daily stages, one each way, from Worcester to Northamp- 
ton, and considerable other travel, pass. 

Many of our town roads are not judiciously located, 
passing over hills and ledges. The original proprietors 
of the town, when they sold their lands, made no reserve 
for roads, and the first settlers coming into an entire wil- 
derness, built their houses to accommodate their own in- 
terest or whims, without the least reference to the future 
wants of the public. Their intercourse with each other. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 69 

however, compelled them to make some sort of paths to 
each other's residence, which were often perched upon 
some of the highest hills. This was first done by marked 
trees, next by cutting a few, that most obstructed the pas- 
sage, until at length by long use, with some trifling re- 
pairs, they received the name of roads. And as new set- 
tlers continued to be added, until their humble dwellings 
became promiscuously scattered over the town, new paths 
of the same character were made, or old ones continued, 
and these were all the roads for the accommodation of the 
inhabitants, with the exception of the great post road, for 
more than twenty years. The first roads made by legal 
authority, was in 1750, and by the town of Leicester. 
Immediately after Spencer became a town, a great many 
roads were located, and many alterations in the old trod- 
den paths were made, but in most cases, each was accom- 
modated with a road by his dwelling, and hence many are 
hilly and circuitous to this day. Those recently con- 
structed, exhibit skill and judgment, and show that this 
town is not behind the times in modern improvement. 

The whole length of all our roads, is something more 
than eighty miles, and kept in repair by the inhabitants, 
exclusive of the large bridges and special grants, at an an- 
nual tax of 1000 dollars, or about 12 dollars per mile. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Hills, and other Localities. The town abounds 
with hills, but none remarkably high, or that merit any 
particular description, and few that retain their ancient 
names. Moose Hill lies partly in Leicester, the town 
line running over its centre. This hill derived the name 
according to Mr. Whitney, " because of the great number 
of those quadrupeds which were wont to harbor there." 



70 HISTORYOFSPENCERi 

Buck Hill is in the Northeast part of the town, and prob- 
ably derived its name, from being the favorite resort of 
those animals. Flat Hill is on land of Caleb Sibley and 
others. Long Hill on land of Ephraim Wheelock and 
others, ■ Oak Hill on land of Caleb M. Morse. Orchard 
Hill on land of Paul Sibley, though not commonly so 
called, is described by that name in ancient deeds and 
other records. Bear Hill is situated southwesterly of Elias 
Adams's, and is wholly covered with wood. The highest 
land in town is supposed to be on land of Reuben New- 
hall, near the line of Charlton. 

Seven Mile River Meadow, is a large and fertile meadow 
situated on the river of that name, and belongs to several 
proprietors. Branch Meadow, is situate on Turkey Hill 
Brook, in the Northeast part of the town. Burnt Coat 
Meadow, the greater part of which is in Leicester, and 
Cranbury Meadow, are now, both flowed as reservoirs for 
mills. Cedar Swamp, is a tract of about 77 acres, in the 
southeast part of the town, and when the town was divi- 
ded into lots between the original proprietors, this was 
excluded from the division, and reserved in common own- 
ership, by them. Hemlock Gutter, is a ravine which 
crosses the great Post Road, between the dwelling houses 
of Henry Eames and Jabez Green, and was formerly a 
terror to the traveller, being a very difficult pass for 
teams, now rendered perfectly safe and easy for all kinds 
of travel. Alder Swamp is near the house of Thomas B. 
Clark. 

Ponds. The only natural Pond, wholly in Spencer, is 
Moose Pond. This is a small collection of water, contain- 
ing about sixty acres, situated three fourths of a mile 
Northeasterly of the Congregational Meetinghouse. It is 
supplied by springs arising from its immediate margin. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 71 

Browning's Pond, is a considerable sheet of water, not 
more than one fourth of which is in Spencer, the remain- 
der is in Oakham. Another called Johnson's Pond, lies 
almost wholly in North Brookfield, and only about three 
or four acres of it in Spencer. 

Streams. This town being situated on the height of 
land, between the Atlantic Ocean and Connecticut River, 
contains no large streams within its borders. Seven Mile 
River is the largest, taking its rise from Browning's Pond, 
it runs Southerly and Westerly into Brookfield and dis- 
charges itself into Podunk Pond ; on this stream, within 
the limits of Spencer, there are two grist mills^ one saw- 
mill, one wire mill, one wheelwright's factory and one 
powder mill. Five Mile River has its source principally 
in Oakham, and after merely touching the Westerly bor- 
der of Spencer in two or three places, at one of which 
there were formerly mills, it unites with Seven Mile River 
in Brookfield. There is a small stream issuing from 
Shaw Pond in Leicester, on which, after passing into 
Spencer, there are two wire mills ; also, another stream 
issuing from Turkey Hill Pond, lying partly in Paxton 
and partly in Rutland, on which after reaching Spencer, 
there is a saw mill. The two latter streams unite in the 
Easterly part of this town ; after this union, it carries one 
grist mill, one saw mill, one scythe factory and one wire 
mill, and then unites with Seven Mile River, near the 
house of Daniel Whittemore. Another stream issues from 
Moose Pond and running through the middle of the town, 
unites with Seven Mile River. On this, there is one 
powder mill,* one large building lately erected for a Fac- 
tory, one grist mill, one saw mill, one satinet factory, and 
other works. Another stream arises from Cranbury Mea- 

* Lately destroyed by explosion. 



72 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

dow and unites with Seven Mile Pviver. On this, there 
is one grist and two saw mills. There is another small 
stream, which falls into the last mentioned stream, on 
which there is one saw mill. All these streams unite, and 
run Westerly, forming one of the branches of the Chic- 
opee and thence into the Connecticut. There is another 
small stream arising from Alder swamp, on which is one 
grist and one saw mill. It then receives the waters from 
Cedar swamp, passes into Leicester and is one of the sour- 
ces of French River. 



Minerals. Considerable quantities of common upland 
iron ore have been dug in this town and carried to the 
iron founderies in Stafford and Brookfield, and Professor 
Hitchcock states, that there is iron ore in some of our 
meadows. Peat, of good quality, has been found, and 
probably much of it abounds. Clay has also been found 
in many parts of the town. Sufficient quantities of brick, 
are annually furnished to supply our own demand, and 
some for a more distant market. The town contains no 
granite or other stone suitable for good building material. 

Soil and Productions. Mr. Whitney calls this town 
" an exceedingly fertile township." It certainly contains 
a considerable quantity of excellent lands, for grazing and 
other agricultural purposes, and considerable quantities 
of beef, pork, butter, cheese, &c. are annually produced 
and sent to market, besides sufficient for home consump- 
tion. Many beautiful swells of land, of great fertility, are 
interspersed through the town, producing grass, indiau 
corn, barley, oats, potatoes, &c. in great abundance. 
There are some excellent meadows, especially, on Seven 
Mile River, some in Branch Meadow and some on Moose 
Pond stream, but much of the swamp and other low lands, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 73 

have degenerated and are now nearly worthless for grass. 
In the first settlement of New England, it was considered 
indispensable; that a piece of meadow should be allotted 
to each farm, and these were immediately cleared and cul- 
tivated for grass. The consequence is, that instead of leav- 
ing our wood lots for fuel, on the swamps and other poor 
lands, where the growth of wood is the most rapid, some 
of the best and most productive lands, on the hills, have 
been left for that purpose. The natural growth of trees 
on the uplands, is the usual varieties of oak, walnut, ches- 
nut, maple, birch, hemlock, &c. Considerable quantities 
of white pine, suitable for building materials, are also 
found, although much has lately been taken to supply the 
wants of the inhabitants. The apple, pear and cherry, 
flourish well when planted and properly cultivated, but 
the bleak winds of winter on our highlands, are often too 
severe for the plum and peach.* 

BUSINESS. 

The principal business of the inhabitants is agriculture. 
There are five stores for the sale of dry goods and groceries, 
three wheelwrights, two cabinet makers, one scythe and 
hoe manufactory, and the usual complement of mechanics 
in a country town. In 1837, there were two woolen mills, 
4 setts of machinery ; 34,000 yards of cloth were manu- 
factured ; value of woolen goods |87,000 ; males employed 
31 ; females 23; there were 52,091 pairs of boots, and 
2,940 pairs of shoes manufactured ; value $106,496 ; males 
employed 162 ; females 28; four wire drawing mills ; 19 

* It is a frequent occurrence here, and the remark is applicable in 
many parts of New England, that there is a rotation of Forest trees. 
When a forest of pine or hemlock has been cut away, the oak haa 
sprung up, and vice versa, when the oak has been cut away. 

10 



74 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

tons of wire manufactured ; value ^10,480 ; 10 hands em- 
ployed : there were 2 powder mills : 162,500 lbs. of pow- 
der were manufactured; value, ^14,500; there were 
29,600 palm-leaf hats manufactured ; value, $700. 
Scythes and hoes to a considerable amount, were also 
manufactured the same year. Since that period, by the 
casualties of fire and other causes, the manufacturing in- 
terest has considerably decreased. 

Post Offices. There are two post offices in the town ; 
one near the centre, Eleazer B. Draper, Post Master. The 
other, five miles North of the centre, called North Spen- 
cer, Jonas Wilson, Post Master. 

ECCLESIASTICAL. 

Previous to giving the ecclesiastical history of Spencer, 
it will be proper to commence with the town of Leicester, 
and give a brief sketch of its ecclesiastical concerns, until 
the Westerly part became a separate precinct. 

Their first Meetinghouse was built in 1719. It stood 
near the site of the present one, and continued to be the 
only house of worship for the congregational society for 
more than 65 years, and until the present one was erected. 
The first minister was the Rev. David Parsons. He had 
been settled at Maiden, and lately dismissed, and several 
of his people had removed to Leicester. These being 
leading men of the town, it was probably by their influ- 
ence that application was made to Mr. Parsons to become 
their minister. He was installed September 15, 1721. 
The connexion proved to be an unhappy one, both for 
minister and people. Although this transaction took 
place 120 years ago, and being so remote from the present 
day, may be thought to have lost all interest with the 
present generation; yet, tradition has handed down many 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 75 

exciting incidents relative to the ministry and dismissal of 
Mr. Parsons, so that, if the expression may be used, the 
recollection is bright in the memories of many at the pres- 
ent day. This may justify a more particular detail, than 
would otherwise have been given. 

It is not known when the congregational church was 
formed, as the ancient church records are all lost. The 
following letters to Mr. Parsons, exhibit a species of cant 
and cringing servility unworthy the character of an in- 
genuous and high minded people, and which was only 
equalled by a deportment of entirely an opposite character 
in their subsequent dealings with him. 
" Rev'd Sir, 

" After our humble duty to you, These we write in be- 
half of the town of Leicester, are to give you a true and 
exact account of our proceedings in our last town meet- 
ing with respect to yourself. Sir, we are not a little sensi- 
ble of the Blessing, which we may receive from God, by 
your Labors amongst us in the work of the ministry, if 
God in his providence should remove you from your un- 
easiness and difficulty, when you are to settle among us ; 
and we hope God will stir up the hearts of his people here, 
to be studying and endeavoring your comfort and happi- 
ness, so as we may be a Blessing to you, and you a Bless- 
ing to us, which we heartily wish and pray for. Rev'd. 
Sir, we with one heart and Consent Do call and Invite you 
to be our settled Minister in the Work of the Gospel 
amongst us, if you see Cause to accept and see your way 
clear to remove ; but alas, if we reflect back upon our- 
selves, we cant but see we are utterly unworthy of so 
great a Blessing, but if you have such a Blessing to be- 
stow on us, as we hope you will be. We desire forever to 
praise his Name for his Goodness to us ward. And sir, we 
heartily wish that we were in a better Capacity than at 



76 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

present we are, to allow a Minister a better salary, than at 
present we can ; but this we hope we can say, so far as 
we are able, we shall be hearty in, and more especially to 
such a one as yourself. And so we pray God to direct 
you for the best, after begging a share in your prayers for 
us. We subscribe your humble servants to command. 
Leicester, November the 30th, 1720. 

Thomas Newhall, Ralf Earle, 

WiUiam Brown, Daniel Denny, 

James Southgate, Nath'l. Richardson. 

Reverend Sir. This is the substance of what was acted 
at our meeting, and with the greatest love and least oppo- 
sition as could be imagined. The town act is as follow- 
eth. 

Nov. 28th, at a Town Meeting legally warned, Mr. 
^. Nathaniel Richardson Moderator, Voted, that the Rev'd. 
Mr. David Parsons be our Gospel Minister. Voted, that 
Mr. Parsons have the forty acre lot next the Meetinghouse 
and the rights in quantity and quality, as other forty acre 
lots drawn in after division. Voted, that Mr. Parsons have 
sixty pounds settlement. Voted, that Mr. Parsons have 
sixty pounds a year salary." 

Copy of a Letter to Mr. Parsons about his settlement, 
1720. 

" Rev'd. Sir. After humble duty to you. These are to 
inform you that we have received a Letter from yourself 
which gives us great encouragement, that we may obtain 
you to settle among us, in order to preach the Gospel 
among us, which gives us great encouragement to raise 
to larger offers as follows. We the subscribers have 
thought lit to raise our former offers as you have had an 
account of by us : We do oblige ourselves to make 
your settlement one hundred pounds, and to add to your 
salary fifteen pounds which makes seventy-five pounds. 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 77 

We do humbly beg a brief and speedy relief under the 
difficulties, which we have labored under a long time, 

Your humble servants. 
Leicester, January the 13th, 1720-21. 

Samuel Green, Thomas Richardson, 

Richard Southgate, Joshua Nichol, 
Samuel Stebbings, John Peters, 
John Smith, William Green, 

William Brown. John Smith, 

Nath'l. Richardson, John Burton, 
Hezekiah Rus, Peter Carlisle, 

John Lynde, Daniel Denny, 

James Southgate, John Smith, Jun. 
William Keen, Thomas Smith, 

Bartholomew Curtis, James Smith, 
James Wilson, Aaron Bell, 

Thomas Wascoot, Adam Taler, 
Joseph Stebbings, Samuel Thomas, 
Oliver Watson, Joshua Barton." 

The foregoing shows the people were very desirous to 
obtain Mr. Parsons for their minister. He declined the 
offer of the town, which was 60 pounds settlement and 60 
pounds salary. Thirty individuals, then agreed to make 
the settlement and salary, each 100 pounds, upon their 
own responsibility. This was accepted. He was re- 
moved at the expense of the town and installed, as before 
stated, September 15, 1721, the town having finally acted 
on the matter, March 30, 1721. 

For a time, peace and harmony appears to have prevail- 
ed between minister and people, but difficulties soon arose. 
The people neglected, or perhaps were unable to pay his 
salary punctually. 

How long this state of things existed is not known, but 
in 1728, Mr. Parsons commenced a suit at the civil law 



78 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

for the arrears of his salary, and not satisfied with this, he 
actually procured au indictment at the quarter sessions at 
Cambridge, for this neglect. This hasty movement pro- 
duced great irritation with the people. After considerable 
altercation, a town meeting was called January 2, 1728-9, 
" to see if the town would raise Mr. Parsons salary, or, 
otherwise to see if they were willing he should leave the 
town." " Voted, that we are willing he should leave the 
town, but shall not raise his salary." Mr. Parsons, again 
applied to the law for redress and for the arrears of his sal- 
ary which the town voted not to raise. The town con- 
tested his claim, but the court not only sustained his de- 
mand, but amerced the town in a fine for their neglect, 
and ordered executions to be issued. Having failed at 
the Judicial Courts, the town next applied to the legisla- 
ture, in a petition presented February 26, 1731, "com- 
plaining of great irregularities and ill conduct in their 
minister, Mr. David Parsons, for which the town have vo- 
ted to dismiss him ; Notwithstanding which the petition- 
ers have been fined for not assessing his salary ; praying 
for relief." The court ordered the petitioners to notify 
Mr. Parsons to appear at the session in May, to attend to 
the petition, "and that execution be stayed in the mean 
time." At the session in May, the parties met, and after 
hearing the answer of Mr. Parsons, the petition was 
dismissed. A large majority of the town and church 
moved together in all these proceedings ; they had voted 
his dismission, and chose a committee to supply the pul- 
pit, and after being thus foiled in all their attempts to de- 
pose their minister and avoid the payment of his salary, 
they not only had two or three years' salary to pay on ex- 
ecution, but a fine and a heavy bill of cost. This was a 
sad disappointment. Although foiled, they were not dis- 
couraged, and at the same session of the General Court, 



HISTOKYOFSPENCER. 79 

they presented another petition for relief. June 23, 1731, 
the General Court say, " Whereas, the differences that 
have arisen between the Rev. Mr. David Parsons, Pastor 
of the Church at Leicester, and a great number (if not a 
major part of the Brethren of said church and Inhabitants 
of said town) have been of long continuance, and proceed- 
ed to such a degree as greatly to prejudice the interests 
and destroy the ends of the Gospel Ministry, the breach 
between them appearing to be incurable, and so as to leave 
no hope that Mr. Parson's Ministry may be servicable, at 
least to a great part of that people, and whereas applica- 
tion is made in the name of said town and church of Lei- 
cester to the General Court for relief in the premises ; Re- 
solved and ordered that all such of the inhabitants of the 
said town of Leicester who conscienciously dissent from 
Mr. Parsons' Ministry respecting points, either of doctrine 
or discipline, alledging scruples of conscience as the 
grounds of their refusal to attend thereon, and do in the 
space of six months next ensuing signify the same in 
writing under their hands to Joseph Wilder, Esq., (who is 
appointed by this court to take a subscription of their 
hands accordingly), as also, that they are willing and de- 
sirous to uphold and maintain the Public Worship of God 
and Gospel order, accordingly to the constitution of those 
churches, that then and from thenceforth all such persons so 
subscribing, together with their ratable polls and estates 
of themselves and families and such of their descendants 
as shall and may desire the same priviledges, shall be 
freed and exempted from all rates, taxes and assessments 
and charges for and towards the support of the said Mr. 
Parsons ; any law, usage or custom to the contrary not- 
withstanding ; Provided always that nothing in this resolve 
or order shall be deemed, construed or taken in prejudice 
of the said Mr. Parsons' right in or unto that two hundred 



80 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

acres of land * which is, or hath been in his possession, 
as minister of said town, but that the same shall remain 
to him his heirs or assigns forever, any thing in the re- 
solve or order notwithstanding ; Provided also, that none 
of the inhabitants subscribing as aforesaid shall receive 
benefit or exemptions by virtue of this resolve or order 
until he or they do respectively provide an able orthodox 
minister, generally to dispense the word of God among 
them, or otherwise diligently frequent the public worship 
in some or one of the neighboring congregations and sub- 
mit their estates to be taxed a proportionable part with 
the inhabitants of such town or towns, respectively, where 
they so attend, for and towards the support of the minis- 
try there ; and do also pay and discharge their respective 
parts and proportions of Mr. Parsons' salary due or becom- 
ing due to him in the interim." 

This order was some relief to the petitioners, but it did 
not cure the difficulty ; Mr. Parsons still occupied the 
pulpit to the exclusion of all others, and his salary must 
still be paid to that time. Many of the people however, 
availed themselves of the privilege, and withdrew from 
his ministry, and his support. 

The town was not yet satisfied, but determined if pos- 
sible to avoid the payment of his salary. Again another 
petition to the General Court was presented the same ses- 
sion, July 28, 1731, " setting forth their great grievances 
in being constrained to maintain Mr. David Parsons as 
their minister, after the town had voted his removal, and 
his conduct had become so ill in that office ,• therefore 
praying that this court would explain the act of the 
Province for the support of ministers upon which they 

* It was afterwards increased to 425 acres, and a record of the same, 
made on the Proprietors' book of records. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 81 

were cast at the court of general sessions of the Peace for 
the county of Middlesex, that they may have liberty to 
appeal from the judgment of the court, or have a trial de 
novo so that they may have the benefit of a jury ! and 
that execution be staid in the meantime." But their peti- 
tion was not granted in this respect, although execution 
was stayed until another hearing. The general court at 
length become worried into the measure and passed a re- 
solve releasing the town from any longer supporting Mr. 
Parsons, but then the Governor, (Belcher) refused to sign 
it. This state of things continued until 1734, when "six 
Worcester gentlemen came as mediators between Mr. Par- 
sons and the town." But the benevolent efforts of these 
gentlemen did not succeed. At last the town and church 
obtained an ecclesiastical council, and they dismissed him 
in March, 1735. 

We are astonished in looking back to this period to ob- 
serve the difference, which then prevailed, in respect to 
the mode of settling and dismissing ministers, and that of 
the present day. It was then extremely difficult to effect 
the dismissal of a minister unless his moral character 
could be impeached, or his doctrine and mode of discipline 
did not agree with the Cambridge Platform, and unless 
some one of these objections was brought against them, 
they were taken for life ! for better or worse, in sickness 
or health. After his dismissal he lived in Leicester until 
his death, 1737. "He was by his special direction buried 
on his own land, apart from the graves of his people. He 
was unwilling that his ashes should repose by the side of 
those with whom he had once worshipped in the sanctu- 
ary and to whom he had broken the consecrated bread ; 
the grave is now visible in a mowing field, about thirty 
11 



83 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

rods north of the meeting house — a monument of human 
frailty."* 

Their next minister was the Rev. David Goddard from 
Framinghara. The town gave him £300 settlement, and 
£100 salary, so long as he remained their minister. He 
was ordained June 30,1736. " His connection with his 
people was uniformly happy and satisfactory, although his 
salary was often in arrear." He died January 19, 1754, 
at Framingham, where he was seized with a fever, when 
on a journey, aged 48.t 

During the ministry of Mr. Parsons, and seven or eight 
years of Mr. Goddard's, the people in the Westerly part of 
the town paid their proportion of all Parish taxes, and a 
portion of them, attended upon the preaching there, al- 
though previous to this, some attempts had been made to 
procure preaching among themselves. As early as April 
2, 1739, Samuel Bemis and John Stebbings, in behalf of 
the other settlers, met the original proprietors at Boston, 
to " consider some way to have the Gospel preached 
among the settlers, and to be freed from paying towards 
the support of the minister of the Easterly part of said 
town, and to come to some agreement about the building 
a meeting house for the accommodation of the settlers." 
At this meeting a vote was unanimously passed, to tax the 
non-resident lands, to assist the settlers in the proposed 
objects. Nothing, however, seemed to have been effect- 
ually done, until the next January, when the proprietors 
*' Voted unanimously " to lay a tax of three pence per 
acre on all their lands for the year 1740, and a further tax 
of two pence per acre annually for the two next years, " for 
building a good substantial meeting house of forty-five /oo^ 

♦Worcester Magazine, Vol. 2, pages 82 — 84, Massachusetts Coun- 
cil Records, Book 15, pages 21, 81, 106, 135, 219. 
j Worcester Mag. VoL 2, page 84. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 83 

long and thirty five /oo^ wide on the land of Mr. Nathaniel 
Cunningham, where he and the settlers shall agree, and to- 
wards a minister's support." Accordingly, Mr. Cunning- 
ham, by deed dated February 26, 1740, gave the inhabitants 
two acres of land, " for the accommodation of the meeting- 
house and for a training field and for such other public 
uses as the town shall direct forever." At a subsequent 
meeting October 29, Samuel Bemis, Jonathan Lamb and 
Moses Smith were chosen assessors and Samuel Capen a 
collector, of the aforesaid taxes. Nothing further is heard 
respecting the meeting house or minister, for three years, 
when, November 2, 1743,* ten of the inhabitants met the 
proprietors again at Boston, to see what the "proprietors 
will give towards the assistance of the inhabitants for en- 
couragement speedily to settle a learned and authordox 
Minister of the Gospel among them." At this meeting, 
the proprietors subjected their lands^ to a further tax of 
two pence, old tenor,t per acre, annually, for five years, 
towards the support of a minister. In the meantime the 
meeting house was built, but at what time is not now 
known, but another meeting was had at Boston the 30th 
of the same month, " to receive the report of the commit- 
tee who contracted for building the meeting house and 

* At a town meeting in Leicester 1741, application was made by the 
inhabitants of the Westerly part, that the money drawn from them by 
taxation, for parochial purposes might be appropriated for the support of 
preaching in that part of the town, but the request was not granted. 

f Nearly a century has passed since the currency in New England 
was calculated in " old tenor." For the information of the present gen- 
eration it may be here stated, that twenty shillings old tenor is two 
shillings and eight pence, lawful money, or about forty four cents. 
Consequently, the salary of Mr. Eaton for his first year being 150 
pounds, old tenor, was equal to $66,67, and a tax of two pence, old 
tenor, per acre, calculating 20,000 acres of land for the town, would he 
about $74,83. 



84 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

the accounts of the persons employed therein." It is prob- 
able therefore, that it was built previous to that time. 
This house, when said to be built, was but imperfectly so, 
for it never was finished. The outward walls were cov- 
ered with unplaned boards and without clapboards. The 
glazing was small diamond glass, with leaden sashes, ac- 
cording to the fashion of those times, but no inside finish- 
ing, with the exception of laying the lower floor. The 
next year, 1744, the pews next to the walls were built, 
being 14 only in number, leaving a space at the Southeast 
and Southwest angles, for stairs to ascend into the galle- 
ries, there being no porches to the house for that purpose, 
and over each of these stairways, were two pews. The 
interior was filled with four seats on each side of the centre 
aisle, called " body seats." These with the seats in the 
galleries, were free for all who chose to use them. And 
as a small number only of the inhabitants were accommo- 
dated with pews, many attempts were made for leave to 
build pews on part of the ground occupied by the body 
seats, but never succeeded until 1767, when it being nec- 
essary to repair the house, the privilege of building four 
pews was sold and the avails appropriated for new cover- 
ing and clapboarding the house and some further finishing 
inside. 

This was indeed a day of small things with our fathers, 
this house being their only place of worship until 1772, 
when a new, substantial and even elegant house for those 
days, was built, being 56 feet long by 47 wide. In 1S02, 
a tower and cupola with a bell was added, and 1838, the 
same house was enlarged and entirely new finished and 
new modeled within and without in handsome style. It 
has already been mentioned, that the act, whereby this 
part of the town became a parish, was passed June 18, 
1744. The first and only candidate for the ministry was 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 85 

the Rev. Joshua Eaton. He commenced preaching some 
time in the latter part of 1743. A church was formed 
May 17, 1744. The same day, the following covenant 
was subscrihed. 

" We whose names are hereunto subscribed, inhabitants 
of the Westerly part of Leicester in New England, being 
apprehensive we are called of God to a church state, and 
to settle the gospel ordinances among us, (in some meas- 
ure being apprehensive of an exceeding unworthiness of 
making such near approach to the holy God, through our 
exceeding proneness to offend him, both in heart and life, 
have great reason to be unfeignedly humble before God, 
and entering into and for the better government of our- 
selves in our church state,) do, in the name of our Lord Je- 
sus Christ, and with humble dependence upon the gra- 
cious assistance of his holy Spirit, solemnly enter into a 
covenant with God and one with another as folio weth. 

In the first place, we do expressly avouch the Christian 
Religion, according to the scriptures of truth contained in 
the books of the old and new testaments, and as explained 
and held forth in our well known Catechism, and New 
England Confession of faith, agreeable to which (in hum- 
ble dependence on the grace of Christ,) we do engage to 
walk and govern ourselves as long as we live. In order 
whereunto, we do solemnly avouch the only living and 
true God to be our God, as he is our God in three per- 
sons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We take 
God the Father, to be our Father ; God the Son, to be 
our Redeemer ; and God the Holy Ghost, to be our Guide 
and Sanctifyer ; we do solemnly avouch him the Lord Je- 
hovah, to be our Prophet, Priest and King forever, to love 
him, to seek and serve him, and to be at his direction, as 
his people in all things, faithfully to stand for him, and 
the cause of his truth and kingdom to our lives end. We 



86 mSTORYOFSPENCERi 

give ourselves to holy communion with him, as members 
of his mystical body, to worship God according to the in- 
stitution of Jesus Christ, in solemn attendance on all his 
holy ordinances, in attention to his Word, prayer and 
singing praises, and to hold communion with one another 
in the use of both ordinances, viz. Baptism and the Lord's 
Supper. — That we will in the way of his word, ordinan- 
ces and the gospel profession, labor after advancement in 
knowledge, faith and holiness, studying mortification, 
heart religion, and a most strict and devout walk with 
God. We do engage to walk orderly and lovingly to- 
gether, endeavoring one another with mutual good and 
edification, admonishing one another in love, and comfort- 
ing one another as occasion serveth. We do engage also, 
to walk in our houses by the same rule, governing, instruct- 
ing and commanding our houses to keep the way of the 
Lord. We likewise promise peaceably to submit our- 
selves to the holy discipline of our Lord Jesus Christ ac- 
cording to the gospel and agreeable to the constitution of 
Congregational churches, and with due regard to the New 
England Platform of church discipline. That vicious per- 
sons may be suppressed, and the holiness which God re- 
quireth may be maintained by us, obeying them that have 
the rule over us in the Lord, shewing all meekness, gen- 
tleness and forgiveness (as the word of God recommend- 
eth in its place.) Now may the God of Peace, establish, 
strengthen, and settle us, &c. Amen. 

Joshua Eaton, Pastor, Josiah Robinson, 

James Wilson, Deacon, James McClure, 

Joshua Barton, John Lawden, 

Archibald Thomas, Deacon, Oliver Watson." 
Jonathan Ormes, 
May 28, 1744, the church and society gave an invita- 
tion to Mr. Eaton to be their minister, offering him all 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 87 

the land tax, besides an additional sum by subscriptions, 
as a settlement, and one hundred and fifty pounds, old 
tenor, for salary. Mr. Eaton gave his answer iu the affir- 
mative, September 24, of the same year. The parish also, 
voted to add five pounds annually, to the salary, until it 
should be 200 pounds old tenor, and the sum was to be 
made equal to silver at twenty-six shillings and eight 
pence per ounce. In 1748, the currency became so de- 
preciated, that £100, was added, and 1766, it was made 
equal to about $244, and so remained until his death. 

Mr. Eaton was ordained November 7, 1744. Mr. Pren- 
tice of Grafton, made the introductory prayer, Mr. Hall of 
Sutton preached the sermon from I Timothy 6: 20. " O 
Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, 
avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of sci- 
ence falsely so called." Mr. Cheney of Brookfield made the 
prayer previous to the charge, Mr. Hall gave the charge, 
Mr. Goddard of Leicester, made the prayer after the 
charge, Mr. Webb of Uxbridge gave the right hand of 
fellowship and Mr. White of Hardwick, " joined in laying 
on the hands." 

The Rev. Joshua Eaton, was the only son of Mr. Josh- 
ua Eaton, and was born at Waltham, then a part of Wa- 
tertown, December 15, 1714, old style. He was graduat- 
ed at Harvard University in 1735. His parents * had de- 
signed him for the ministry, but contrary to their wishes, 
and to their great disappointment, he turned his attention to 
the law, and studied that profession with Judge Trow- 

* His parents,' says his biographer, were "honest and respectable." 
They removed to Worcester, where his father, carried on the business 
of a tanner, and was one of the selectmen of that town in 1742. They 
afterwards removed and lived with their son at Spencer, where his 
mother died June 5, 1760, aged 73. His father died February 26, 1767, 
aged 84. 



88 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

bridge of Cambridge, then an eminent attorney at law. 
In 1737, he commenced the practice of law at Worcester, 
being six years after the incorporation of the connty, and 
is the first lawyer who established himself in that town. 
He continued in the practice only about five years. His 
talents were respectable and he soon acquired an extensive 
business in his profession. " He early shone with a prom- 
ising lustre in the knowledge and practice of the law, and. 
he had the fairest prospect of acquiring to himself a good 
and great name in that profession, and an ample fortune."* 
About the year 1740, he received a powerful impression 
in favor of the subject of religion, which induced him, in 
accordance with the desires of his parents, to turn his 
views to the ministry ; and for that purpose he commenced 
the study of theology. He is supposed to have received 
his first religious impression from the celebrated George 
Whitefield, who in one of his itinerations through the 
country, visited Worcester and preached there in 1740. 
The glowing eloquence, the ardent and impetuous zeal of 
Whitefield, created great agitation, distraction and divi- 
sion among the New England churches. True he was 
opposed by a large majority of the clergy, but a few joined 
Avith him and encouraged his preaching. f The enthusi- 

* Funeral sermon by Rev. Eli Forbes of North Brookfield. 

•f Mr. "Whitefield was a man of extraordinary powers of elocution, and 
he won multitudes, but his language was coarse and disrespectful to his 
opponents, of revolutionary tendency and sometimes bordering on impi- 
ety, and his measures disorganizing. President Clapp, of Yale College, 
testifies, that he heard Mr. Whitefield make use of the following lan- 
guage. "I intend to turn the generality of the ministers of this coun- 
try out of their pulpits (who are half beasts and half devils,) and bring 
over ministers from England." His preaching produced great divisions 
and great acrimony of feeling between those of the clergy who adhered 
to him, and those who opposed him. The former asserted that he ought 
to be supported, "because the doctrines which he preaches are agreeable 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 89 

asm of Mr. Eaton, so far carried him beyond the bounds 
of propriety, that he incurred the censure of the church 
in Worcester, and was suspended from their communion. 
By his own request, an ecclesiastical council was conven- 
ed to advise in the matter between him and the church. 
Upon this he remarks in his diary, Nov. 25, 1743, " The 
church was pleased to restore me to christian privileges 
without any acknowledgment, and gave as a reason for 
what they had done in censuring me, that they looked 
upon me as being actuated by an over heated brain." 
About this time, he had commenced preaching, as a can- 
didate in Spencer. He was married to Sarah Elliot "of 
an ancient and honorable family," December 26, 1739. 
She died October 28, 1770.* 

Mr. Eaton lived with his people in great harmony, dur- 
ing his ministry, and though often called from his labors 
by severe indisposition, they did not complain, but cheer- 
fully paid him the small pittance of a salary, and their af- 
fection to him continued unabated to his death, which 
took place April 2, 1772, aged 57, and in the 28th of his 
ministry. 

Mr. Eaton was tall and slim in person, of slender con- 
to the standard of truth, and also, because of his remarkable success." 
In reply it was asked if it was true "that God loveth sinners as sinners .?" 
which was quoted as one of Mr. Whitefield's assertions, and in answer 
to the second they reply, " It is to be observed with lamentation, that 
the success of his ministry (if it may be called success) hath been to 
raise in the minds of many, a spirit of censoriousness, and uncharitable- 
ness, of bitterness, anger, wrath, malice, envy, revenge, in many, as is 
evident to every observing eye, by the carriage of his admirers toward 
many of the brethren, with whom, before he came amongst us, they 
lived in peace and good agreement. Such success he hath had, to the 
grief of many godly persons." Dean's History of Scituate, pages 235, 
402,403. 

* Mrs. Eaton was sister to John Elliot, Esq. of whom some account is 
given, in another place in this work. 
12 



90 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

stitution, of ardent piety and tender sensibility, as he often 
addressed his people from the desk, in tears. His preaching 
was plain and practical, and be seldom or never delivered 
doctrinal discourses. After his death, a volume of his ser- 
mons was printed, which are characteristic of his general 
preaching. To this volume was added a memoir of his 
life, together with his funeral sermon, by the Rev. Eli 
Forbes of Brookfield. 

His children were, John, born May 19, 1741, and died 
July II, 1754 ; Sarah, b. May 12, 1744, died, October af- 
ter; Sarah, b. October 11, 1745, and was married to Doct. 
WiUiam Frink ; Mary, b. October 1, 1747, died July 2, 
1754 ; Joshua, b. January 2, 1749 ; Samuel, b. March 14, 
1752, died January 21, 1754 ; John Elliot, b. February 9, 
1756, and was a physician of some eminence in Dudley, 
where he died in 1812, aged 56. 

After the death of Mr. Eaton, Daniel Grosvenor sup- 
plied the pulpit two Sabbaths,* and a Mr. Z. Buttler, four 
Sabbaths. Next, Joseph Pope preached as a candidate, 
and continued to supply the pulpit until he was ordained. 
The Rev. Joseph Pope was born in Brookline, (Conn.) 
then a part of Pomfret, September 28, 1746. He was 
graduated at Harvard University in 1770. He was em- 
ployed one year, teaching a Latin school in Worcester, 
where he fitted several young gentlemen for college. He 
commenced the study of theology with the Rev. Mr. 
Searl of Stoneham, (Mass.) and completed his course under 
the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Putman of Pomfret, the minis- 

* Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, was a native of Pomfret, (Conn.) He was 
ordained at Grafton, October 19, 1774, and dismissed January 1, 1788, 
afterwards installed at Paxton, November 5, 1793, and dismissed No- 
vember 17, 1802. He afterwards removed to Petersham, where he late- 
ly died at an advanced age. He has one or more sons, now in the min- 
istry. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. Qt 

ter of his native town. After preaching about three 
months at Uxbridge, he came by invitation to this town, 
and giving satisfaction to the people of this place, they 
with great unanimity, gave him a call, February 15, 1773, 
to settle with them as their minister. He was offered the 
sum of £133 6s. 8d. ($444,45) as settlement, and $244, 
same as Mr. Eaton in the latter part of his life, as salary, 
" during the time he shall supply the pulpit in this place.^' 
The settlement and salary, for aught that appears, were 
satisfactory, but the conditions were rejected. The offer 
was then qualified so as he should receive his salary " so 
long as he shall continue in that ofRce in this place." 
These terms were accepted and he was ordained October 
20, 1773. Eleven clergymen, with their delegates, assisted 
at the ordination, viz : Mr. Putman of Pomfret, Mr. Hall of 
Sutton,who also assisted at the ordination of Mr. Eaton, 29 
years before. Messrs. Ward, Forbes and Fiske, from the 
three parishes in Brookfield, Mr. Searl of Stoneham, Mr. 
Conklin of Leicester, Mr. Paine of Sturbridge, Mr. Macar- 
ty, of Worcester, Mr. Sumner ^of Shrewsbury and Mr. 
Thayer of Paxton. Mr. Pope was married to Miss Anna 
Hammond, daughter of Colonel Benjamin Hammond, of 
Newton, October 9, 1777. During his long ministry, 
nothing occurred of a serious nature to disturb the 
harmony between him and his people. A considerable 
portion of the time of his ministry, and especially during 
the period of the revolutionary war, owing to the depreci- 
ations of the currency, the salary was unreasonably small, 
and was by no means a sufficient remuneration for his 
services. But this was a time of universal distress, when 
not only ministers were deprived of an adequate support, 
but the people were literally crushed to the earth, beneath 
the enormous burthens, that were heaped upon them. 
Occasionally, however, an additional allowance was made, 
but seldom sufficient to compensate for the depreciations 



92 HIS TORYOF SPENCER. 

of money, or the rise in the articles of living in modern 
times. He continued to supply the pulpit until November 
1818, when a sudden stroke of paralysis, rendered him 
nearly helpless, during the remainder of his life. He 
continued to linger, however, for more than seven years, 
when death, who must have been a welcome messenger, 
put a period to his almost worn out existence, March 8, 
1826, in the eightieth year of his age and fifty third of 
his ministry. After he was unable to officiate at the sa- 
cred altar, a junior pastor was settled, and again dismissed, 
before the decease of the venerable senior. 

Mr. Pope's literary acquirements were superior to the 
generality of the clergy of that age. He was a good 
classical scholar, and during his ministry, prepared many 
young gentlemen for college. In his religious sentiments, 
like his predecessor, he was Calvinistic, and like him too, 
his sermons were plain, practical discourses, and seldom 
preached upon controversial subjects.* His amiable and 
venerable consort survives him at the advanced age of 86. 
His children are, Joseph, born July 14, 1778, graduated 
at Dartmouth College in 1798, and is now an attorney at 
law in Portland, Maine ; Charles, b. February 26, 1780, 
and now resides in Maine ; William, b. December 10, 1781, 
is a Justice of the Peace, and inherits the homestead ; 
Anna, b. February 16, 1786, and was married to Professor 
Shurtleff of Dartmouth College, and deceased, March, 
1826, nearly at the time of her father's decease.f 

After the pulpit became vacant by the sickness of Mr. 
Pope, Stephen Crosby of Thompson, Conn, was employ- 
ed as a candidate. He had preached but about ten Sab- 

* The only printed discourse of Mr. Pope's, is a sermon delivered at 
the funeral of the Rev. Mr. Williams, of Brimfield. 

f See sermon preached at the funeral of Mr. Pope hy the Rev. John 
Nelson, of Leicester. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 93 

baths, when the society, by an unanimous vote, passed 
March 15, 1819, invited him to become their minister. 
They offered as a salary $650 per annum, "as long as 
he should remain in said office, and should regularly sup- 
ply the pulpit in this place." The proposition and the 
condition were couched in explicit terms, and required a 
plain, exphcit answer. His answer was given April 10, 
1819, wherein he says "your unanimous call is prayer- 
fully received and cheerfully accepted. Understanding 
the clause ' shall regularly supply the pulpit in this place ' 
not as referring to occasional absence and temporary sick- 
ness, but as importing merely, that my salary shall cease 
whenever my ministerial connection with you shall be 
dissolved, in the manner specified by the town, " that is, 
by a mutual council. The answer was received, on the 
third day of May, when the people were assembled in le- 
gal meeting for that purpose. There was not a little 
disagreement manifested in the minds of the people, as to 
its purport. It is obvious the town* intended his salary 
should continue no longer than he regularly supplied the 
pulpit. But according to his "understanding" it was to 
continue until he should be dismissed by a mutual coun- 
cil, whether the pulpit was supplied or not. After de- 
liberation, it was voted " not to accept of the answer ;" 
the meeting was adjourned to the sixth of the same month, 
and a committee chosen to confer with Mr. Crosby, and 
report at the adjournment. But Mr. Crosby declined 
making any further communication or explanation 
through this committee to the town. The meeting was 
again adjourned to the 20th of the same month, and the 
same committee were directed to have further conference 

* At this time, all parish business was done in the name of the town, 
and the words " town " and "society" are here, indiscriminately used. 



94 II I S T O R Y O F S P E N C E R. 

with Mr. Crosby upon the subject. This conference, 
however, resuUed like the former. At the last adjourned 
meeting, the friends of Mr. Crosby prevailed, and a major- 
ity of the society were infatuated enough to accept of his 
answer, with all its ambiguity, and he was ordained June 
9, 1819. 

By some unaccountable fatuity, a majority of the soci- 
ety were deceived, as to the true import of the answer. 
However, nothing material occurred to disturb the harmo- 
ny between the parties for four years, when doubts hav- 
ing arisen relative to the true nature of the contract, the 
town, in March 1823, chose a committee to confer with 
Mr. Crosby upon the subject. Although he declined 
making any written communication to the town, he dis- 
closed to the committee his own views of the nature of 
the contract. The following communication was then 
immediately transmitted to him. " Dear Sir, you will 
recollect, that when this society gave you an invitation to 
settle with them in the gospel ministry, one condition 
upon which said invitation was given, was that your sal- 
ary should annually continue so long as you should ' reg' 
ularly supply the pulpit in this place,'' and their inten- 
tions were, that whenever your regular ministrations 
should cease, your salary should cease also. But your an- 
swer contains some ambiguity of phraseology, which at 
that time was not understood by a majority of the society 
but is now understood by them to imply, that your 
salary should continue to any indefinite period whatever, 
without any regard to the regular performance of your 
ministerial labors with the society, unless an ecclesiastical 
council should see fit to dissolve the connexion thus sub- 
sisting between you and the society. And this, sir, the 
society has been informed, is your construction of the con- 
tract. Now, sir, the society cannot but view this con- 
tract, as it is thus understood, as entirely destitute of that 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 9^ 

reciprocity, which is the only firm basis of all equitable 
contracts, and which is so essential to promote the harmo- 
ny and the good understanding, as well as the interests of 
the contracting parties. Viewing it in this light, sir, and 
prompted by the dictates of prudence to ourselves, and 
justice to our posterity, and being desirous of averting the 
disastrous consequences, which would inevitably come, 
should such a contingency happen, as has been alluded to 
in this communication, the society has thought fit to en- 
ter anew, into a negociation with you, and to solicit your 
compliance, that the aforesaid contract may be so altered 
or amended, as to conform to the wishes of the society, 
and to the spirit and intention of the instrument, wherein 
they gave you an invitation to become their minister. 
Accordingly, at a legal meeting of the societj'', called and 
convened for that purpose, they have voted, that you be 
requested to consent to a modification of the aforesaid con- 
tract, so that it may conform to the views and wishes of 
the society as herein expressed, and that you be also, re- 
spectfully requested to signify your assent to, or your dis- 
sent from this proposition, in writing, to the committee, 
who may present this to you, if convenient, on or before 
the first Monday in May next, when the society will again 
be convened, for the further consultation, and determina- 
tion of this subject." April 7, 1823. 

The answer was received May .5, and although of great 
length, it was in its character, altogether no7i committal. 
He neither admitted nor denied; that the construction now 
put upon the contract, was, or was not, the true one ; he 
neither consented nor declined to alter or amend or make 
a new contract. In fine, he entirely avoided coming to 
the point at issue between them ; professed to be some- 
what indignant at the " charge," as he was pleased to term 
it, of ambiguity, and finally stated that if the town would 



96 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

call another meeting, he would present a proposition to 
them upon the subject. 

Accordingly, another meeting was held on the 26th of 
the same month agreeable to the wishes of Mr. Crosby. 
At this meeting he read a paper, but stated that he did not 
mean to have it considered a formal communication. 
Consequently no action was had on it, and the paper was 
withdrawn, the meeting was adjourned to the 16th of 
June and a committee appointed to confer with him fur- 
ther upon the subject. At the adjournment, the commit- 
tee reported that they had " held a conference with him, 
but notwithstanding, had no new communications to make 
to the town." 

March 15, 1S24, another committee was chosen "tore- 
quest the Rev. Mr. Crosby to alter the contract between 
him and his people, or join with them in calling a council 
to dissolve the connexion," and they farther proposed that 
the amount of salary should be only ^600,00. The 
meeting was adjourned to the 5th of April. Mr. Crosby 
then wished the town to vote on the following proposi- 
tion. " Those who desire my continuance with them, on 
fair and equitable terms would signify it." The votes 
were 44 in favor and three against it. He then read his 
communication, but it was not satisfactory to the town, 
and it was withdrawn. It was then voted that the town 
request Mr. Crosby to unite with them, in calling an ec- 
clesiastical council for the purpose of dissolving the con- 
tract. A committee was chosen to present the vote to him, 
and the meeting was fartheradjourned to the 19th. At this 
meeting a vote was taken on the following proposition. 
"All those who wish the Rev .Mr. Crosby to continue with 
us, under existing circumstances, will please to signify the 
same by voting." Voted in favor one — against it forty- 
five. The meeting was farther adjourned to the 3d day 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. 97 

of May. At this meeting, Mr. Crosby made another dis- 
satisfactory communication, and the town then chose a 
large committee, and delegated to them full power to act 
for the town in any circumstance which might arise, and 
they were expressly charged to call an exparte council if 
necessary, to dissolve the connexion, and then dissolved 
the meeting. 

August 30, 1824, another meeting was called, to con- 
sider a new proposition from Mr. Crosby. One condition 
in this was that, whenever two thirds of the society should 
desire his dismission, and should give him six months no- 
tice in writing, and the reasons for such desire, at the ex- 
piration of which, and vice versa, on his part ; then both 
parties agreed to a dissolution of the contract, and a mutu- 
al council was to be called for that purpose. The soci- 
ety accepted this proposition by a vote of 30 in favor and 
19 against. 

The society became so disaffected towards Mr. Crosby, 
that in two months, viz. November 1, another meeting 
was called to see if two thirds of the society would agree to 
give him six months notice for a dismissal. The vote 
was, for his dismissal 56, against it 26, being more than 
two thirds in favor of dismissing. 

Many attempts and fruitless negociations were made 
between the parties to effect an immediate dissolution of 
the contract, without the formality of waiting six months, 
but it only served to increase the mutual irritation. A 
mutual council was at length convened, consisting of all 
the neighboring ministers with each a delegate, and, al- 
though Mr. Crosby earnestly contended and protested be- 
fore them, against a dissolution of the contract, yet they 
were unanimously in favor of effecting it, and he was dis- 
missed May 31, 1S25. 

The Rev. Stephen Crosby was Ihc son of a respectable 
13 



98 HISTORYOFSPENCERi 

farmer in Thompson, Conn. He commenced his educa- 
tion at Brown University, but finally was graduated at 
Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. in 1816 or 1817. He 
completed his Theological studies with Doct. Nott, Presi- 
dent of the last named college. After being settled in 
Spencer, he was married to Miss Julia Cowles, daughter 
of a wealthy merchant in Farmington, Conn. After his 
dismission, he was installed in East Granby, Conn. He 
was dismissed from that society, and was settled in the 
Western part of New York. He was finally settled in 
or near Norwich, Conn., where he died in 1839. 

After the dismission of Mr. Crosby, the society was sup- 
plied with occasional clergymen during the remainder of 
the year, when application was made to Mr. Levi Packard 
to preach a few weeks, as a candidate. He continued to 
supply the pulpit until the third day of April 1826, when 
the society gave him a call, by a unanimous vote, to be 
their minister, offering him a salary of $550 per annum, 
on condition that the contract should be dissolved, after 
six months notice by either party. Mr. Packard accepted 
the proposition, with the qualification that the society 
should pay $475, as salary, and should also furnish him 
with a respectable dwelling house for him and his family 
during his continuance with the society as their minister. 
This was complied with, and he was ordained June 14, 
1826. The following clergymen assisted at the ordina- 
tion. Mr. Huntington of North Bridgewater, Mr. Ide of 
Med way, Mr. Sweet of Palmer, Mr. Nelson of Leicester, 
Mr. Clark of Rutland, Mr. Conant of Paxton, Mr. Snell of 
North Brookfield, Mr. Stone of South Brookfield, Mr. Tom- 
linson of Oakham, Mr. Park of Southbridge, Mr. Newhall 
of Oxford, Mr. Pond of Ward, and Mr. Bond of Sturbridge. 

Agreeable to the contract, the society built a parsonage 
house and other accommodations, the present residence of 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 99 

Mr. Packard, which, incUiding one acre of land, cost the 
sum of two thousand dollars. 

Rev. Levi Packard is son of Mr. Levi Packard of North 
Bridgewater, and was born in that town, February 4, 1793. 
He was graduated at Brown University in 1821. He 
completed his Theological studies with the Rev. Jacob 
Ide of Med way. Was married to Miss Clarissa Sandford, 
daughter of Mr. Philo Sandford of Medway, August 16, 
1836. 

SINGING. 

Sacred music, as anciently performed, would hardly add 
much to the edification of modern christian assemblies. 
After the psalm was read by the minister, some one who 
acted as chorister, gave out the tune to be sung. As but 
few had psalm books, who joined in singing, one of the 
Deacons read the first line of the psalm, which was re- 
sponded to, by the singers, who were promiscuously seat- 
ed over all parts of the house. The next line was then 
read in the same manner, and alike responded to, until the 
whole psalm was sung. By this method, those who were 
destitute of books, were enabled to sing with those who 
were fortunate enough to have them, as they could repeat 
each line by memory, after it had been pronounced by the 
deacon. After practising several years in this way, Mr. 
Eaton recommended, that instead of one line only, a whole 
verse should be read by the deacons. Complaints were im- 
mediately made, by those who had no books, against this, 
as an innovation from the ancient and sacred manner of 
performing that part of public worship. But the persever- 
ance of the minister overcame all opposition and remon- 
strance, and the new method was continued, for many years. 
At length, it was found expedient for the congregation to 
supply themselves with books, and to dispense altogether 



100 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

with the services of the deacon in reading the psalm, and 
this practice continues to be in favor to the present time. 

As has been mentioned, the singers originally sat pro- 
miscuously in all parts of the house. Many efforts were 
made to effect a reform in this matter, and have them sit 
together, as manifestly more convenient for the singers 
and more edifying to the audience. But this too, was 
considered an innovation, not to be peaceably acquiesced 
with. Even as late as 1782, an article was inserted in 
the warrant at the annual meeting " to see if the town 
will grant seats in the gallery in the meeting house to the 
singers that they may sit together." But it passed in the 
negative. The town having been favored with the servi- 
ces of Mr. Solomon Howe, a celebrated instructor in sa- 
cred music, who substituting some of the sweet and pleasing 
airs of Billings, for the slow- movements of Williams and 
Tanner, effected such a reform in church music, that the 
singers were allowed to sit together, and the front part of 
the gallery was appropriated for their use.* 

Anciently, the chorister was chosen by the united votes 
of the church and congregation, and not as now, and ever 
ought to be, by the singers. Accordingly, we find it re- 
corded, in the church records, "March 22, 1770, The 
church and congregation voted for a chorister. Doct. 
Ormes had 23 votes, Mr. Mason had 18 votes. March 3, 
1775. The church chose John Muzzy, Jun. for chorister. 
December 25, 1782. The church and congregation chose 
Lieut. Jonas Muzzy for chorister, and Mr. Oliver Watson, 
Jun. as assistant." 

The old version of Sternhold and Hopkins, continued 

* One old gentleman felt himself so much outraged, with what he 
considered such an improper manner of performing public worship, that 
he told the minister if he gave his encouragement to such improprieties 
he would serve th^.m a trick that the. devil would'nty he would leave them. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 101 

to be used throughout the greater part of Mr. Eaton's 
ministry. This version had become stale and obsolete, 
and the ministers generally, (whose poetic taste, was 
much superior to the generality of their hearers,) were de- 
sirous of a change. But the old people, cherished this 
version with great reverence ; it being bound in the same 
volume with their bibles, it was considered a part of the 
same, and quite as sacred ; while the beautiful poetry of 
of Brady and Tate and Doct, Watts, was considered little 
short of profanity. In June, 1761, the church met to take 
the matter into consideration, and after some debate, it 
was voted, that having made trial of Brady and Tate's ver- 
sion for some time, they would try the old version for four 
sabbaths, and Doct. Watts, until September, " that then 
the church and congregation meet and choose which of 
the three versions they think best to use." After having 
made trial as aforesaid, the church and congregation met, 
and the vote was for the old version, 33, for Doct. Watts, 
14, for Brady and Tate, 6. So Sternhold and Hopkins 
preponderated, and Watts, with Brady and Tate, kicked 
the beam ! After this, they voted to refer the matter to 
three ministers, viz. Mr. Ruggles of New Braintree, Mr. 
White of Hardwick and Mr. Forbes of North Brookfield. 
These gentlemen advised them to make use of Brady and 
Tate on trial for six months, and then determine which 
should be used, by vote, concluding their advice by re- 
commending them for " constant use, as we do apprehend 
it most for the glory of God, and the edification of the 
church." Here the matter rested, the old version was 
used eight years longer, and no action was taken upon the 
advice of these ministers until May, 1769, when it was 
voted to accept of their report and make trial of Brady and 
Tate. But the minority were so much dissatisfied, that 
the old version was continued two weeks longer, when it 



102 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

was voted, that the old version, with Uoct. Watts, should 
be used unitedly, " till the church and congregation shall 
come to a better understanding as to what version may be 
sung." This method would place the two versions in 
contrast every Sunday. This was continued until Octo- 
ber 19, 1769, when the good taste of the people prevailed, 
and the church and congregation voted to make use of 
Doct. Watts' Psalms and Hymns. The votes were for 
Doct. Watts', 26, and " about 6 votes for the old version."* 

* As most people, now on the stage of life, have probably never seen 
Sternhold and Hopkins', collection, called the " old version," the follow- 
ing stanzas, selected from that version, taken promiscuously, and almost 
at random, will serve as a specimen. 

" In thy great indignation, 

Lord, rebuke me not ; 

Nor on me lay thy chastening hand, 

in thy displeasure hot. 
Lord, I am weak, therefore on me 

have mercy and me spare ; 
Help me, O Lord, because thou know'st 

my bones much vexed are. 

But I have all my confidence 

thy mercy set upon ; 
My heart within me shall rejoice 

in thy salvation. 

By thee through troops of men I break, 

and them discomfit all ; 
And, by my God assisting me, 

1 overleap a wall. 

For without cause, they have for me 

their net hid in a pit; 
They also have without a cause, 

for my soul digged it. 
Let ruin seize him unawares, 

his net be hid withal ; 
Himself let catch, and in the same 

destruction let hira fall. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 103 

BAPTISTS. 

The first Baptist Church in Spencer was constituted 
June 30, 181.9. Their meeting house was built the next 
year, 1820, and is situated at the Northeast part of the 
town, near to the Hne of the town of Paxton. The socie- 
ty is small and is composed of individuals from the adjoin- 
ing towns of Spencer, Rutland, Paxton and Leicester. 
Their first minister was the Rev. Amos Levafor, who was 
ordained in the winter of 1821. How long he continued 
with them, is uncertain. The next minister, was Mr. 

Phippin, who preached 1827 and 1828. Edward 

Kenney, was employed in the ministry for 1829 and 1830. 
Rev. Moses Harrington preached for the society for 1834 
and 1835. The next minister was Willard Glover, who 
preached only for the year 1837, Elder Luther Goddard 
of Worcester, preached occasionally for 1838 and 1839. 
Mr. Urijah Underwood is engaged as their pastor for 

Our belly also on the earth, 

fast cleaving hold doth take ; 
Rise for our help and us redeem, 

even for thy mercies sake. 



With emerods in the hinder parts 
He strake his foes withal : 

And put them into a shame 
that was perpetual." 



The following is a typographical specimen, taken from the edition 
printed in 1609, as used by the Pilgrims. 

" Attend my people to my law, 

and to my words incline ; 
My mouth shall speak strange parables, 

and sentences diuine ; 
Which we ourselues haue heard and learnd, 

euen of our fathers old, 
And which for our instruction too, 

ovr fathers haue vs told." 



104 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

1840. The above account is meagre and very imperfect, 
but as the records of the society are unfortunately lost, it is 
all that could be obtained. 

UNIVERSALISTS. 

The Universalist Society in Spencer, was incorporated 
April 22, 1830. At this time it consisted of ten members 
only, viz : Phinehas Jones, Jacob Wilson, Rufus Sibley, 
Caleb Sibley, Jonas Sibley, Oliver C. Watson, Wilber 
Howland, Nathaniel Wilson, Alonzo Temple and Lemuel 
Smith. The society was organized by the formation of 
a constitution and the choice of officers on the day of in- 
corporation, since which time, thirty-eight other members 
have joined with their families. The meeting house was 
built in 1833, and dedicated November 20, of the same 
year. Dedicatory sermon by the Rev, L. S. Everett, 
then of Charlestown. The church was formed October 
29, 1834, and the same day Rev. Oilman Noyes, was in- 
stalled over the society. Sermon by Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, 
of Maiden. The first two years, the society was partially 
supplied by occasional preaching. William A. Stickney 
preached for them for 1832. Oilman Noyes, was their 
regular minister for six years, from the spring of 1833, 
to the spring of 1839. Mr. Noyes was a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College, and studied theology with Rev. Sylvanus 
Cobb. The Rev. John Harriman is their stated minister 
for the years of 1839 and 1340. 

BURIAL PLACE. 

It is probable that all who died here previous to 1740, 
were carried to Leicester for interment, where their bones 
now lie crumbling beneath their meeting house, horse 
stables, &c. But in 1740, Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 105 

conveyed two acres of land to the inhabitants of Spencer, 
" for the accommodation of a meeting house," and for 
other parochial and municipal purposes, and more than 
half of which was appropriated for a place to bury their 
dead. In 1791, nearly half an acre was added to it, for 
the same use, and in 1817, it was further enlarged, by 
the addition of nearly one and a half acres more, making 
in all about two and a half acres. This constitutes the 
only burial place in the town, and nearly all who have 
died here for a period of one hundred years, besides many 
from other towns, have been here deposited. During this 
period, the whole number of the dead, consigned to this 
narrow 'spot, is probably iioo thousand, outnumbering 
those who survive, within the limits of the town, by four 
hundred ! 

BRIEF SKETCHES OF THE FIEST SETTLERS OF 
SPENCER. 

•' Time rolls his ceaseless course. The race of yore 

Who danced our infancy upon their knee, 
And told our marvelling boyhood legends store, 

Of their strange ventures happ'd by land or sea, 
How they are blotted from the things that be! 

How few, all weak and withered of their force, 
Wait, on the verge of dark eternity, 

Like stranded wrecks, the tide returning hoarse, 
To sweep them from our sight. Time rolls his ceaseles.s course." 

Walter Scott. 

The first settlement was made by Nathaniel Wood some time 
in 1717. His farm of 100 acres, was taken from the Western 
ends of lots 29 and 36, now the residence of John Howland, 
Nothing is now known of his family, but it is believed he had 
no children born, while he lived in this town. He was here in 
1730, but he probably removed from the town early, and is sup- 
posed, to Brookfield. 

Family of Bemis. The second settlement was made by 
14 



106 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Samuel Bemis from Watertown, 1721. He was doubtless a de- 
scendant of Joseph Bemis, who emigrated to Watertown, in 1640, 
and was probably the ancestor of all who bear that name in this 
part of New England. Mr. Bemis purchased the remainder of 
lots 29 and 36, being 400 acres. He commenced felling the an- 
cient forest, which covered his farm, before he removed hither 
his family. At that time, the Indians had not all retired from 
this part of the country, and they frequently came into his cabin 
and tarried with him through the night, contrary to the wishes 
of Mr. Bemis. In 1722, when his wife was about to give birth 
to her third son, (William) fearing the Indians she made a jour- 
ney to Sudbury for safety during that critical period, and when 
her little son was only two weeks old, she rode home on horse 
back, a distance of nearly 50 miles, in one day, and carried her 
infant in her arms, although the greatest part of the distance, the 
road past through an entire wilderness ! He acquired a hand- 
some estate and built the first framed house in town, which was 
a two story building, and now stands on the farm, having been 
erected about 115 years. He was born 1688, and was married 
to Sarah Barnard, of Sudbury. She died September 30, 1756, 
aged 62. His children were Samuel, born May, 1716; Edmund, 
November 1, 1720; William, November 1, 1722; Nathaniel, 
1725; Sarah, December 12, 1727; Joshua, July 14, 1729; 
Elizabeth, about 1732, and Jonas, March 25, 1737. 

The following is the inscription on his tombstone in the grave- 
yard. 

" In memory of Mr. Samuel Bemis, one of the first settlers in 
this town, who died August 1776, in his 84th year. 

Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey. 
Or men as fierce and wild as they ; 
Our kind forefathers did repair, 
And built us towns and cities there." 

Samuel Bemis, son of Samuel, was married to Eebekah New- 
hall, of Leicester, January 9, 1740. She died leaving no chil- 
dren. He was next married to Mary Johnson, daughter of Capt. 
Benjamin Johnson, November 11, 1742. His children by her 
were Benjamin, born January 18, 1744 ; Mary, December 3, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 107 

1745; Rebekah, January 2, 1747; Samuel, September 18, 1749 ; 
Reuben, June 10, 1752 ; Bulah, September 26, 1754. His wife 
Mary died January 3, 1760. He was soon after married to Me- 
hetable Bunnell, by whom he had Lydia, born May 10, 1761 ; 
Jonathan, April 9, 1765 ; Joel, February 7, 1768 ; Judith, August 
27, 1769 ; Wait, June 20, 1772. 

In 1742, he purchased a part of lot 56, where he built a house, 
on the hill North of S. Luthers. He afterwads lived in various 
parts of the town, and died August 15, 1793, aged 77. His wife 
Mehetable, died February 24, 1807. 

Edmund, son of Samuel Bemis, Senior, was married to Eunice 
Chadwick of Western, (Warren) 1749. His children were, 
John, born September 3, 1749 ; Joseph, November 20, 1750 ; 
Susannah, May 3, 1752 ; Phinehas, October 7, 1754 ; Eleazer, 
May 24, 1756 ; Ruth, December 23, 1757 ; Lydia, March 29, 
1760. His wife Eunice, died April 13, 1761. He afterwards 
was married to Widow Smith, of Charlton. He first established 
himself on a part of the homestead, but finally purchased the 
whole of lot SO, in 1769, where he died, and where some of his 
posterity now live. 

Besides being an ofHcer at the taking of Louisburgh in 1745, 
he was a captain in the expedition to Crown Point in 1755 and 
1756. The following obituary notice appeared in the Massachu- 
setts Spy, December 26, 1810. 

" Died in Spencer, Capt. Edmund Bemis, aged 90 years. 
There are some things worthy of record in the life of this aged 
and war worn veteran. His father was the first settler in Spen- 
cer, having removed from Sudbury, to this town, about the birth 
of this son, that is, about the year 1720. This son Edmund has 
been very remarkable for his habits of honesty, industry and 
temperance, which have produced a long life of heahh and hap- 
piness. He early entered into the service of his country, and 
was a Lieutenant at the reduction of Louisburgh in the year 
1745. At this siege he was a zealous and active officer. After 
the French had surrendered to the victorious arms of New Eng- 
land, it was found they had spiked their cannon, intending there- 
by to render them entirely useless to the captors. It had been 
heretofore deemed an impracticable thing, after a gun was thus 



108 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

spiked, to drill it out, or by any other method Avhatever, to render 
it again fit for service. The commander of the American forces, 
offered a premium to any one who would undertake the task, if 
he should prove successful. Lieut. Bemis undertook it, and by 
a process heretofore unthought of, effected the desired object. 
Instead of drilling, as was supposed to be the only practicable 
method, he collected a large quantity of wood around the can- 
non, and setting it on fire, heated it to such a degree, that with 
a cold punch, the spike was easily driven into the barrel. Thus 
was he the author of a useful discovery to his country, which has 
ever since been followed with complete success. After the re- 
duction of Louisburgh, he was a Captain in the war with France 
which succeeded, at the close of which, he returned home, to 
seek that repose among his friends, which he has since enjoyed 
without interruption. It will be perhaps, worthy of notice, as 
one singular circumstance, that he dug the grave for the first 
person in Spencer, upwards of seventy years ago. As he was 
the first person who prepared a mansion for the dead in this town, 
so likewise he is the last inhabitant who has removed to those 
gloomy mansions, between which times, there are supposed to be 
not less than twelve hundred persons consigned to the same 
place, which he first marked out, and of which he has since ta- 
ken possession." 

William Bemis was married to Rebekah White, July 5, 1750. 
His children were Jesse, born June 3, 1751 ; Sarah, June 3, 1753 ; 
David, October 21, 1755 : Sibbilah, February 2, 1758 ; Rebekah, 
March 12, 1761; Persis, January 10, 1764; William, August 
18, 1766 ; Silas, May 14, 1770. He died March 23, 1801, aged 
78. His wife Rebekah, died March 17, 1819, aged 86. He 
was a captain in the militia, when it was considered an honor to 
hold such a commission. He purchased the East end of lot 15, 
in 1746, where he remained until his death. The farm is now 
owned by Artemas May. 

Nathaniel Bemis, was married to Ruth Harrington, of Brook- 
field, January 10, 1753. His children were Hannah, born May 
23, 1753; Elizabeth, October 1, 1755; Barnard, November 2, 
1757; Ruth, August 13, 1758; Nathaniel, August 29, 1760; 
Nathan, May 11, 1764; Betty, June 6, 1766; Moses, May 14, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER, 109 

1769. He received 100 acres of the homestead, where he died, 
January, 1784, aged 61. His wife Ruth, died August 21, 1817. 

Joshua Bemis, was married to Sarah White, September 18, 
1755. His children were, Martha, born October 15, 1755 ; 
Amasa, October 10, 1757 ; Lucy, October 22, 1760 ; Sarah, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1763 ; Molly, May 5, 1765 ; Joshua, October 21, 1768; 
Fanny, July 24, 1771; Elias, December 23, 1773; Katherine, 
June 24, 1778 ; Esther, November 14, 17S0 ; Anna, January 2, 
1784. He also received 100 acres of the homestead, where he 
died, March 24, 1789, aged 59. His wife Sarah, died June 2, 
1791, aged 54. 

Jonas Bemis, was married to Dolly Wood, of Brookfield. His 
children were Obadiah, born October 9, 1758; Jonas, June 29 
1760; Israel, December 9, 1762; Asa, December 16, 1764 
Dolly, October 9, 1766; Phebe, March 27, 1768; Sarah, Octo 
ber 15, 1769; Elijah, January 19, 1772; Molly, July 25, 1774 
Hannah, January 30, 1779. His farm was part of lot 60 
where his son Jonas Bemis, Esq., now lives. He served his 
country both in the old French war, and in the war of the revolu- 
tion. He died May 7, 1790, aged 53. His wife Dolly, died 
June 26, 1814. 

Sarah Bemis, was married to Daniel Lynde, of Leicester, 
June 20, 1751. Elizabeth Bemis, was married to Jonathan 
Moore, of Worcester, July 10, 1755. 

/ John Greaton, from Medford (originally from England,) made 
the third settlement in Spencer. He purchased lot 25, in 1723, now 
owned by]Phineas Jones. His children were John, Sarah, Mary, 
Thomas, James, Martha, Hannah and Joseph. He was killed on 
his own farm by the fall of a tree, which himself cut down, April, 
1737. James was married to Hannah Baldwin of Leicester, April 
27, 1749. He settled on a part of the home farm. His children 
were John, born December 22, 1749 ; James, October 30, 1751 ; 
Mary, August 19, 1753 ; Hannah, May 7, 1755. Thomas, Au- 
gust 1, 1757 ; Nathan, July 28, 1759 ; Some of his descendants 
are now living in Leicester. 

Family of Lamb. The fourth settlement was made by Lieut. 
Jonathan Lamb 1726 or 1727. He purchased lot 27, and built 



110 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

a house, where Deacon Joel Grout now lives. His children by 
his wife Lydia were Jonathan, Joshua, Dorothy and John, born 
March 5, 1727. Lieut. Lamb was a useful man and highly re- 
spected in the community where he was known. He died in 
1749. 

Jonathan Lamb Jun. was married to Elizabeth Richardson of 
Leicester, in 1737. He settled on lot 28, where Joseph Wheat 
now lives, and where he died, April 9, 1760, aged 46. His wife 

afterwards was married to Nichols, and died June 21, 1780, 

aged 62. His children were Ruth, born December 28, 1737; David, 
December 14, 1739 ; Jonathan, July 3, 1742 ; Nathan, November 
3, 1744; Thomas, April 13, 1747; James . Ruth was mar- 
ried to Luke Converse. 

Joshua Lamb, was married to Sarah Wilson, March 19, 1741. 
He received a part of the paternal estate and built the house 
where Thomas G. Kingsbury lives. His children were Joshua, 
born July 3, 1741 ; Samuel, July 4, 1743 ; David, May 24, 1745 ; 
Sarah, August 24, 1747 ; Mary, August 8, 1749 ; Lydia, April 
8, 1752; Benjamin, April 27, 1754; Jonas, June 24, 1755. 

John Lamb, was married to Abigail Smith of Leicester, April 
21, 1752. He purchased and settled on lot 6, where his son, 
Maj. Isaac Lamb lives. His children were James, born April 
14, 1753; John, March 22, 1755; Abigail, July 29, 1757; 
Nathaniel, March 22, 1760 ; Mary, July 6, 1762 ; Isaac, Decem- 
ber 30, 1764 ; Pliny, March 5, 1767. He died January 13, 
1796, aged 69. His wife died May 7, 1799, aged 66. 

Dorothy Lamb was married to Jacob Shaw, Senior, of Leices- 
ter, June 10, 1742. 

Family of Wilson. Deacon James Wilson, came from Lex- 
ington to Leicester and settled on house lot No. 10, in 1714. 
How long he remained in Leicester, and when he came to Spen- 
cer, is not certainly known. His title to lot 5, bears date in 
1730 : he did not remove however until some years after that date. 
His house stood about 50 rods South of F. Howe, Esqr., where 
the remains of the cellar may now be seen. He was often pro- 
moted to offices of trust both in Leicester and Spencer, and was 
the first deacon of Mr. Eaton's church in 1745. His children by 



HISTORYOFSPENCER. Ill 

his wife Mehetable were Joseph, Dorothy, Sarah, Mehetable, 
James, Anna, born May 15, 1725; Benjamin, May 22, 1727; 
William, April 4, 1729 ; John, March 26, 1730; and Azariah, Au- 
gust 25, 1731. Deacon Wilson remained in this town until 1758. 
At this time the Stockbridge Indians were about selling their 
lands and emigrating farther west. The fertility of these lands, 
arrested the attention of purchasers, and Deacon Wilson being of 
an unstable mind, in his worldly pursuits as well as in his reli- 
gious * character, sold his farm and removed to Stockbridge. 
Thus he became the pioneer in the settlement of three towns, 
Leicester, Spencer and Stockbridge. 

James Wilson, Jun. was married to Lydia Vinton of Leicester, 
March 15, 1748. He owned the mills, now belonging to F. Howe, 
and were the first erected in this town, having been built proba- 
bly about 1740. His children were, Hannah, born January 28, 
1749 ; Peter, Sept. 30, 1750 ; Elizabeth, January 22, 1753 ; Ab- 
igail, May 16, 1755. 

Benjamin Wilson was married to Mary Stower, of Leicester, 
July 7, 1748. His children were Mary, born December 29, 1748 ; 
Abigail, July 18, 1751; Rachel, June 21, 1753. 

Joseph Wilson was married to Grace Harrington of Brookfield, 
October 8, 1745. His house was afterwards owned by his son 
Samuel, now owned by Edmund Muzzy. His children were, 
Grace, born June 25, 1746; Samuel, May 11, 1748; Lucy, June 
21, 1750; Isaac, November 2, 1752; Azariah, October 1, 1756, 
and Mary . 

The children of Warner Livermore are the fifth generation 
from Deacon Wilson. 

In 1732, John Ormes purchased part of lots 49 and 65. He 
came from Watertown. His house was on the hill west of Nath'I. 

* Soon after he was elected deacon, he left his church and joined 
himself to a few fanatical foreigners, who had also left the Rev. Mr. 
Frink's church in Rutland and formed themselves into a Presbyterian 
society in the South part of that town. After being united with thera 
about three months, he deeply regretted the course he had pursued and 
begged to be restored again to his former standing in Mr. Eaton's 
church. After some altercation and mutual crimination he was again 
received. 



112 HISTORYOFSPENCER. 

Bemis. He died April 12, 1755. His wife Elizabeth died May 
19, 1785, aged 100 years 5 months and 9 days, being born in 
December 1684. He had three sons, John, Jonathan, James. 
John removed to Providence, K. I., Jonathan lived on the farm, 
now owned by Warner Livermore. His children by his wife 
Elizabeth, were Jonathan, born October 7, 1745; Elizabeth, De- 
cember 10, 1747. His wife died and he was married to Hannah 
Canada, in Sept. 1748. 

A notice of James Ormes will be given in another place. 

One of the sixth generation from John Ormes is living in 
Spencer. 

Family OF Cunningham. Robert Cunningham settled on the 
South part of lot 18, as early as 1732. t He was born in Ireland 
1677, and emigrated to this country, about 1717, and lived in 
Boston, until he came to this town. He had four children, viz. 
John, born 1700, Hugh, Eobert and James, all born in Ireland. 
He died May 13, 1766, aged 89. 

John Cunningham, was married to Ann Sinclair, March 22, 
1739. He was a man of sound judgment, unimpeachable moral 
character, was frequently promoted to offices of trust and honor 
in town, and acquired a handsome estate, having added 500 acres 
(lots 10 and 14) to his paternal estate. He died February 9, 
1789, aged 89. His children were Robert, born March 25, 1740; 
John, February 28, 1746; Jonathan and David, (twins) June 6, 
1748 ; Nathaniel, March 16, 1752 ; William, November 15, 
1754. His wife died November 3, 1775, aged 63. 

Hugh Cunningham, was married to Elizabeth Scott, of Lei- 
cester, December 2, 1742, and the same year, he established him- 
self on a part of the homestead, where his son Nathaniel, lately 
lived, and where his widow now resides. His children were, 
John and Nathaniel. He died in 1754. The farm of Robert 
Cunningham, Senior, has been owned by his posterity in regu- 
lar succession for 108 years, some of the sixth generation now 
inheriting it. 

t The deed from Col. Joshua Lamb to Robert Cunningham and Arch- 
ibald Laniond bears date Sept. 2D, 1731. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 113 

Archibald Lamond settled on the North part of lot 18, as early 
as 1732. The farm is now owned by Edmund Newton and Eli- 
sha Prouty. He was born in Scotland, in 1677 ; it is not known 
when he emigrated to America. He came from Worcester to 
Spencer. He died April 4, 1771, aged 94. His wife Margaret 
died September 5, 1775, aged 88. His children were John, 
Robert, Archibald, Anna, Ruth and Elizabeth. Robert died 
August 7, 1753, aged 30. John died in 1755. Anna, was 
married to Thomas Harman of Rutland, November 13, 1744, a 
celebrated surveyor of land. Ruth was married to Arthur Fur- 
bush, of Rutland, June 30, 1749. Elizabeth was married to Dan- 
iel Gray, of Pelham, August 18, 1752. 

In 1733, Nathaniel Cunningham, a wealthy merchant of Bos- 
ton, purchased lots 24 and 36, containing 500 acres, and erected 
the large house, now owned by Lemuel Smith, being considered 
quite a prodigy for those days. This house was the third erect- 
ed on the great post road in this town, and although having 
stood some years more than a century, is still in good repair. 
Mr. Cunningham also built two other houses on these lots, one 
on land owned by Josiah Green, and one on landof Maj. Thom- 
as Peirce. These were called the East, West, and North farms, 
and were inhabited by various tenants until 1760, when Mr. 
Jeremiah Whittemore purchased 200 acres of the Eastern part, 
and John Elliot, Esq., purchased 300 acres of the Western part. 
These lands extended from the East line of the farm of W. Pope, 
Esqr., to the West line of the farm lately owned by John Steb- 
bings deceased, and from the North line of the farms of Nathan 
White and Doct. Jonas Guilford to the South line of the farm 
owned by John Muzzy deceased, comprehending some of the 
best lands in town, 

John Curtis, was the son of Jonathan Curtis of Roxbury one 
of the original proprietors of the town, and commenced about 
1734, on the South part of lot 67, where John F. Guilford now 
lives. He continued to reside there until 1759, when he remov- 
ed to Charlton. He was married to Mary Spear of Leicester, 
December 12, 1732. His children were Sarah, born August 24, 
1735; Abigail, May 9, 1742 ; Elizabeth, July 8, 1744; Rachel, 
15 



114 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

October 7, 1747; Thankful, November 16, 1750; Jonathan, 
June 19, 1754 ; Rebekah, April 6, 1757 ; Sarah died in Spencer 
a few years since. Rachel, was married to Peter Bowen of 
Brookfield, June 26, 1788; Jonathan removed from Charlton 
to the State of Ohio, where he died. He was married to Dolly 
Wilson of Spencer, January 15, 1778. 

David Allen, from the gore South of Leicester, in 1735, en- 
tered upon the North part of lot 61, now owned by Daniel Hobbs. 
He was married to Esther Newhall of Leicester, July 10, 1732. 
After her decease, he was married to Sarah Barton, June 6, 1751. 
Becoming infirm in his bodily health, in 1743, he gave an un- 
divided half of his farm to his brother-in-law, John Newhall, in 
consideration of being supported through life. It is presumed 
he had no children. 

William Sinclair (or St. Clair) purchased the West half of 
lot 68, in 1735. He was born in Ireland, in the County of Down 
and Parish of Drumbloo, in 1676, and came to New England in 
1729. He lived in this town 18 years and died July 4, 1753, 
aged 77. His wife Mary died August 9, 1763, aged 79. He 
had four daughters, Ann, Mary, Agnes and Elizabeth. Ann, 
was married to John Cunningham and has left numerous de- 
scendants. Mary, was married to Jonas Mays. Agnes, to Wil* 
liam Breckenridge, of Palmer, December 11, 1746, and Elizabeth 
to John Dunn of Northbridge, October 6, 1774, afterwards re- 
moved to Brookfield. The farm is now owned by John Muzzy. 

In 1734, David Adams, from Medway, purchased a part of 
lot 65. His children by his wife Abigail were, David born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1744; Amos, February 15, 1746; Abigail, May 14, 
1748 ; Christian, November 26, 1750; Jemima, April 3, 1753; 
Lydia, October 26, 1755 ; Persis, October 24, 1757 ; Jonathan, 
May 27, 1761. His wife died March 22, 1801. David was 
married to Martha McClure, March 1, 1770. Amos, to Mary 
Lynde of Leicester, February 25, 1766. Christian, to Ebenezer 
White of Charlton, February 22, 1770, and is now living at the 
age of 90, and is the only person known to be living who was 
married by Rev. Mr. Eaton. Jemima, married to Jude Adams, 
of Brookfield, August 29, 1771. Persis, married to Caleb Nich- 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 115 

ols, of Leicester, June 13, 17S0. David was married to Hannah 
Bemis, second wife, April 3, 1793. 

In 1736, AsHER Rice, purchased and took possession of the 
"West half of lot 7. Mr. Thomas Rice, father of Asher, was the 
first settler in Westborough, then a part of Marlborough, and 
was for several years, representative for the town of Marlborough. 
in the General Court. His house was made a garrison in 1711, 
and stood on the plain, where the village of Westborough is now 
situated."^ On the Sth of August, 1704, as several persons were 
at work in the field, a party of 8 or 10 Indians rushed from the 
woods, and killed Nahor, son of Mr. Edmund Rice, and captivat- 
ed two more of his sons, Silas and Timothy, and also, Asher and 
Adonizah, sons of Thomas Rice, and carried them to Canada. 
Silas, Timothy and Adonizah never returned, but Asher was re- 
deemed by his father, and returned in about four years. When 
taken by the Indians, he was about 10 years of age. While in 

Westborough, he married Tabitha , by whom he had Asher, 

born in 1734, Tabitha, born 1746. These came with him to 
Spencer. His other children were, Sarah, born July 20, 1738; 
Anna, June 1, 1741; Jacob, May 20, 1744; Martha, June 14, 
1746 ; Nathaniel, July 4, 1750 ; David, June 30, 1752 ; Jededi- 
ah, April 2, 1755. Asher was married to Sarah Phelps, a sec- 
ond wife, October 3, 1782, by whom he had several children, 
now living in Spencer. He died, May 13, 1823, aged 89. 
Tabitha, was married to Abner Hollowell, November 6, 1761. 
Anna, was married to Ebeuezer Smith of Leicester, December 2, 
1767. The house of Asher Rice, Senior, was on the Western 
side of the " Waite Road," about half a mile Westerly of the 
house of Elliot Boice, where may be seen the vestiges of his 
cellar. While among the Indians, he imbibed many of their pe- 
culiarities, some of which he retained through life. He erected 
forts and garrisons to guard against the Indians, long after they 
had all disappeared. His eccentricities of character, on other 
matters, were somewhat remarkable. He spent much time in 

* The garrison of Mr. Rice stood, on the spot now occupied by the 
house of the late Mr. Fayerweather. 



116 HISTORYOFSPENCER< 

abortive attempts at building mills and other projects, all on a 
plan, peculiarly his own. He died August 20, 1773, aged 79. 

John Read, settled on the Eastern half of lot 7, in 1736. 
He was born in Ireland 1699, and emigrated to this country in 
1729, and removed from Milton to Spencer. He died January 
31, 1787, aged 88. His first wife Ann, died in 1743. His sec- 
ond wife, Martha Blair, from Warren, to Avhom he was married 
in 1745, died in 1791, aged 82, He had a son named John. 
The farm is now owned by Elliot Boice. 

The North part of lot 67, was settled by Joshua Barton in 

1737. He was originally from Oxford, from whence he came to 
Leicester, as early as 1720, and thence to Spencer. He had 
several children by his wife Anna, viz : Joshua ; Timothy born 
April 13, 1732 ; Nathan, July 23, 1734 ; Reuben, March 28, 

1738. Joshua, Jun., was married to Abigail Pratt, of Framing- 
ham in 1750. His children were, Daniel, born August 25, 1751 : 
Nathaniel, July 28, 1753 ; Margaret, December 18, 1755 ; Reu- 
ben, April 28, 1758 ; Hannah, July 27, 1760; Tabitha, October 
21, 1763; Joshua, October 9, 1766; Abia, October 25, 1769. 
The farm of Joshua Barton, Senior, is owned by Jonas Guilford, 
2d, and others. The farm of Joshua Barton, Jun,, is owned by 
Silas Grout and others. 

Capt. John Stebbings, was the son of Samuel Stebbings, and 
to him and his brother Joseph Stebbings, was assigned the first 
house lot of 30 acres, in Leicester in 1714. Tradition says 
they came from England, at what time is not known, but he and 
his brother were neither of them 21 years of age when they 
came to Leicester. This house lot was on " Strawberry Hill," 
and comprehended a considerable part of the present village in 
Leicester. He was the first grantee, named in the deed, giving 
the Easterly half of the town to the first fifty families, dated 
January 8, 1724, He was a housewright by trade, but he ac- 
.quired only a moderate property ; yet he was a man of intelli- 
gence and influence, and was often promoted to offices both in 
civil and military life. While in Leicester he was married to 
Sarah Southgate of that town. His children by her while in 
Leicester were, Sarah, born September 30, 1732; Elizabeth, 



I 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 117 

September 2, 1734. He came into Spencer in 1737 or 1738, and 
took possession of lot 6, (now owned by Maj. Isaac Lamb.) Af- 
ter this, his children were, John, born July 21, 1738; James, 
April 23, 1740; Mary, October 2, 1742. His wife died Novem- 
ber 16, 1742, and he was married to Mary Hinds of Brookfield, 
in 1743. By her he had Benjamin, born June 25, 1744 ; Reu- 
ben, April 18, 1746; Patience, August 19, 1747. He was a sol- 
dier in the French war in 174G, under Gov. Shirley, then rag- 
ing in Canada and Nova Scotia. In 1755, he was an officer in 
the next French war and died in 1756, near Lake George. His 
daughter Sarah, was married to Joseph Bigelow. Elizabeth, 
was married to Daniel Newhall of Leicester. John Stebbings 
Jun., was married to Olive Muzzy, daughter of Dea. John Muzzy, 
October 11, 1764. He lived in Spencer and acquired a hand- 
some estate, two thousand dollars of which, he generously gave 
to the congregational society in Spencer. He left no children 
and died July 17, 1821, aged 88. His widow died March 1, 
1840, at the advanced age of 96. 

Moses Smith was in Spencer, as early as 1738, and purchased 
the most part of lots 21 and 23, comprehending what are now the 
farms of Daniel Whittemore, Washington Hill, Jesse Cutter, 
Luther J. Clapp, Eli Prouty, part of the farms of Nathan Prouty, 
the late Asa Prouty and Joshua Hill. His house stood about 40 
rods North of the house of Daniel Whittemore. After selling off 
several farms to various individuals, he s©ld the remainder with 
the buildings to Samuel Bemis, Jun. in 1750. In 1752, he owned 
the ** Jenk's tavern and farm, " and in 1754, he sold it to John 
Flagg of Waltham, and removed from town. His children by his 
wife Elizabeth, were Jonas, born March 18, 1739 ; Moses, Au- 
gust 10, 1743, Elizabeth, August 13, 1745 ; Amos, April 28, 
1750; Joseph, March 26, 1752. 

Family of Capen. Samuel Capen, originally from Dorches- 
ter, came to Leicester about 1733,'/rom thence he came to Spencer 
and purchased lot 19, in 1738, now owned by Nathaniel Green 
and Elliot Hall. This he sold to John Lamb and in 1751, pur- 
chased a part of lot 48, now owned by Elias Hall. About 1760, 



118 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

he removed to Belchertown, where he died. He was Parish 
clerk from 1747 to 1753, and assessor several years, and is said 
to have been celebrated as a mathematician. His children by 
his wife Deborah were Ann, born November 11, 1724 j Timo- 
thy, 1726 ; James . These were born in Dorchester. 

While in Leicester, he had Samuel, born March 14, 1734 ; Eliz- 
abeth, January 14, 1735; John, May 1, 1737; Hannah, May 
22, 1739; Edmund, July 16, 1740; Phebe, January 6, 1742; 
Samuel 2d, August 29, 1743 ; Purchase, September 25, 1746. 

Ann was married to Jacob Prouty. 

Timothy, purchased a part of lot 48, in 1750, now owned by 
his grandson, Capt. Daniel Capen. He was married to Mary 
Merrit of Leicester, April 2, 1751, by Avhom he had Timothy, born 
August 8, 1752 ; Elizabeth, October 10, 1754 ; Mary, June 1, 
1756 ; Hannah, Novembers, 1758; Abijah, September 23, 1762; 
Deborah, January 14, 1764 ; Patience, May 3, 1766. Timothy 
Capen, senior, died in 1804, aged 78. His wife Mary died 
March 31, 1714. James Capen, was married to Elizabeth Prou- 
ty, November 28, 1758. He commenced with his father, on part 
of lot 48, in 1751. In 1763, he purchased and built on part of 
lot 17, now owned by William Bemis. His children by his first 
wife were Lydia, born August 16, 1759 ; Ruth, March 1, 1769 ; 
James, August 3, 1762. She died and he was married to Sarah 
Sawin, December 30, 1762, by whom he had three daughters. 
He died June 14, 1807. 

The family op Prouty. This name is the most numerous 
of any in Spencer, and they derive their ancestry from Richard 
Prouty, who lived in Scituate as early as 1667. Isaac Prouty, 
son of Richard, was married to Elizabeth Merrit in 1710, by 
whom he had a numerous family of children, of whom six sons, 
viz. Jacob, David, John, Adam, James and Isaac, and one daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth, removed to Spencer. David Prouty was born in 
1716. In 1739, he purchased a part of lot 23, lately owned by 
his son, Asa Prouty, deceased, and the same year he was mar- 
ried to Elizabeth Smith, sister of Moses Smith. His children 
were David, born November 27,1739; Elizabeth, August 27, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 119 

1741; Ruth, September 12, 1743; Mary, May 21, 1745 ; Sarah, 
March 10, 1747 ; Jesse, March 13, 1749; Asa, Feb. 1751 ; Lucy, 
Feb. 26,1753; Bulah, March 27, 1755; Oliver, May 27, 1757; 
Rhoda, May 17, 1759; Lucretia, 22, 1761. He died December 
29, 1767, aged 51. His wife Elizabeth, died April 24, 17S9. 
David Prouty, son of David Prouty, was married to Hannah Ball, 
daughter of Deacon Eleazer Ball, November 27, 1761. He set- 
tled on the east end of lot 30, where his son David lives. He 
was a soldier in the war with France, a captain in war of the 
revolution and major in the militia, and often one of the select- 
men and assessors. He died August 25, 1814, aged 75. Eliza 
Prouty was married to Daniel Ball, Feb. 6, 1772 ; Ruth to Jon- 
athan Munroe, October 19, 1769 ; Mary to James Draper, May 
31, 1769; Sarah, to Benjamin Hayward, December 29, 1774; 
Asa to Lydia Livermore, and afterwards to Tabitha Ormes Sep- 
tember 29, 1785; Bulah to William Knight, July 7, 1774; Olive 
to John Graham, May 30, 1780. 

Jacob Prouty was born March 14, 1715, and was married to 
Ann Capen, daughter of Samuel Capen, December 8, 1741. In 
1470, he purchased the Northeast part of lot 23, and built a house 
which stood about half a mile Easterly of the house of Maj. Eli 
Prouty. His children were Deborah, born October 19, 1742; 
Phebe, July 23, 1744; Lydia, June 4, 1747; Anna, November 
22, 1748; Samuel, January 19, 1750; Jacob, April 11, 1752; 
Hannah, August 15, 1754 ; Caleb, September 7, 1756 ; Joshua, 
May 18, 1759 ; Nathan, October 22, 1761 ; Mercy, September 
14, 1763. Deborah was married to John Bisco, Esq., May 10, 
1764 ; Phebe, to Peter Harwood, May 25, 1763 ; Lydia, to Silas 
Stevens, June 20, 1765; Anna to Amos Munroe, December 1, 
1768; Jacob to Rachel Eddy, September 29, 1774; Joshua to 
Molly Muzzy, November 8, 1781 ; Nathan to Patience Converse, 
September 30, 1784 ; Mercy to Buckminster White, April 8, 
1784. 

John Prouty was born in 1718, and was married to Abigail 
Johnson, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Johnson, October, 1745. 
He also settled on apart of lot 21, where he built a saw and grist 
mill, on Seven mile river, now owned by Muzzy and Nichols. 



120 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

His children wore, Benjamin, born October 1, 1746 ; John, Jan- 
uary 4, 1749; Isaac, December 22, 1750; Johnson, January 8, 
1754; Abigail, November 27, 1756; Eli, (September 8, 1757; 
Daniel, July 15, 1759; Eebekah and Esther (twins,) June 11, 
1764 ; Lucy, Juue 5, 1766 ; Molly and Dolly, (twins) April 19, 
1768. John Prouty senior, died January 29, 1792, aged 73. 
His widow died January 31, 1801, aged 74. Benjamin was 
married to Sarah Green, January 10, 1774; John to Lucy Glea- 
son, October 13, 1771 ; Isaac to Anna Dunnel, January 20, 1772; 
Johnson, to Anna Livermore April 5, 1774; Abigail to John 
Lamb, July 1, 1784; Eli to Rebekah Bemis, May 28,1782; 
Daniel to Catherine Palmer, June 7, 1781 ; Esther to Joshua 
Whitney, June 7, 1781 ; Eebekah to Nathaniel Lamb, November 
20, 1783; Lucy to Eli Whittemore, July 24, 1783; Molly to 
Thomas Hatch, November 15, 1787; Dolly to Jonathan Knowl- 
ton, March 3, 1791. 

Adam Prouty was born 1721. He married early and lived in 
Scituate and Hanover several years. His wife died after he re- 
moved to Spencer and he married Dorothy Howe of Rutland, Jan- 
uary 15, 1751. In 1763, he purchased a part of lot 17. He af- 
terwards purchased a part of lot 64, where he died. His wife 
Dorothy died October 23, 1809. He had a numerous family of 
children, but there is no record to be found of any of them except 
Seth, who was born November 12, 1761. His children by his 
first wife were Grace, Sarah, Luther, Isaac, &c. and by his last 
wife, Seth, Rhoda, Eunice, Patty, Desire, Dolly, Adam, Lucy, &c. 
Isaac Prouty, son of Adam, was married to Molly Watson, of 
Leicester, December 10, 1778. Rhoda was married to Jude 
Hamilton of Brookfield, April 18, 1793; Eunice to Abia Barton, 
May 26, 1793; Patty to Simeon Phelps, November 3, 1796; 
Dolly to James Adams, October 8, 1800. The farm where he 
died is owned by Elias Adams. 

James Prouty was born 1730. After residing on different 
farms he finally settled on a part of lot 40, Avhere his son Reuben 
now lives and Avhere he died. He was married to Mary Dins- 
more, June 25, 1765. He died May 3, 1813, aged 83, His wife 
died June 1, 1803. His children were Amos, born March 8, 1766 ; 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 121 

Reuben, December 18, 1771 ; Sarah, December 10, 1777 ; Su- 
sannah, March 8, 1782; Lydia, October 17, 1783; James, Jan- 
uary 30, 1786 ; Polly, December 9, 1788. Reuben was married 
to Sally Bartlett of Vermont ; Sarah to James Bothwell, October 
2, 1797; Susannah to John Bothwell, December 26, 1799; 
Lydia to Brigham Morse, Feb. 2, 1804 ; Polly to Alpheus Bemis, 
August 12, 1805. 

Isaac Prouty, senior, was born 1732. He was married to Pris- 
cilia Ramsdell. He came to Spencer and settled on the west 
end of lot 16, in 1757, where his grandson, John N. Prouty lives. 
He died May 5, 1805, aged 73. His widow died July 13, 1814, 
aged SO. His children were Priscilla, born October 1, 1756 ; 
Elijah and Elisha, (twins) January 27, 1759 ; Sage, November 
2, 1762; Joseph, March 26, 1767; Thomas, June 13,1769; 
Jesse, August 6, 1771 ; Avis, April 27, 1775; Betsey, January 
24, 1780; Elijah, was married to Anna Munroe, June 19, 1788; 
Elisha, to Elizabeth Demond of Rutland. Sage to Alexander 
Dean of Oakham, March 18, 1784 ; Joseph to Betsey Draper, 
May 19, 1791. Thomas to Louis Wood, September 19, 1793 ; 
Jesse, to Abigail Burden, April 22, 1798. 

The organ of Philoprogenitiveness must have been prominently 
developed in the family of Proutys, as among their numerous de- 
scendants, there have been no less than seven pairs of twins. 

In 1739, Henry White from Dedham, purchased the Northerly 
part of lot 79, now owned by Jacob Wilson. He was married to 
Abigail Draper, daughter of Capt. James Draper of Dedham. 
She was born December 12, 1721. Their children were Re- 
bekah, born December 11, 1741 ; William, May 20, 1744; Abi- 
gail, April 4, 1747. He died 1748. His widow married to Asa 
Baldwin and died November 3, 1817, aged 94. Rebekah was 
married to John Worster, April 28, 1763 ; William was married 
to Esther Lynde, May 12, 1768 ; Abigail to Johnson Lynde, May 
21, 1767. William inherited the homestead, had a Major's com- 
mission, was married to Elizabeth Browning for 2d wife 1817. 
He died February 1826, aged 82. His wife Esther died August 
5, 1815. 

Jacob Stoddard settled on the south part of Lot 79, in 1740. 
His children by his wife Rachel were, Jacob, born 1730; Rachel, 
16 



123 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

March 1731; Jonathan, April 1734; Eleanor, July 11, 1735; 
Elijah, January 15, 1737 ; Sarah and Mary (twins) March 25, 
1739; Abigail, August 28, 1741. His wife Rachel died and he 
was married to Hannah Minot, November 20, 1744. By her he 
had Mary, born Sept. 6, 1745 ; Richard, January 25, 1747 ; sec- 
ond Richard, Sept. 30, 1748; Samuel, June 23, 1750; Hannah, 
August 11, 1752; second Mercy, May 31, 1755. His second 
wife died and he was married to Mary May, widow of William 
May, October 25, 1757; Jonathan was married to Elizabeth Bald- 
win of Leicester April 10, 1760 ; Eleanor to Jonathan Snow, of 
Leicester, May 20, 1758, and again to Dea. John Muzzy ; Mary 
to David May, April 5, 1764 ; Mercy to Samuel Bryan June 18, 
1778 ; Jacob Stoddard's house stood about half a mile southeast 
of the house of Jacob Wilson. The farm was afterwards owned 
by Daniel Atwood and now owned by Jacob Wilson. 

In 1740, Oliver Watson from Leicester purchased lot 2, com- 
prehending the farm of his grandson Jeremiah Watson, part of 
the farm of Edmund Muzzy and the farm of the late John Steb- 
bings. He was married to Elizabeth Blair of Worcester, Decem- 
ber 1742. He was a respectable and useful member of society, 
was deacon of the Congregational church, a Patriot of the revo- 
lution, was promoted to various responsible offices in the town, 
'Avas a delegate chosen by the towns of Leicester and Spencer to 
sit in the Convention at Watertown in 1775; was a representa- 
tive to the General Court from Spencer, being the first chosen by 
the town alone in its corporate capacity. He died December 20, 
1804, aged 86. His children were Oliver, born November 18, 
1743; Robert, May 28, 1746 ; Elizabeth, January 1, 1749; Ma- 
ry, April 30, 1752 ; James, July 20, 1754 ; Abigail, November 
27, 1759; Martha, June 18, 1763; David, March 16, 1766. Ol- 
iver was married to Rebekah Cunningham 1780. Robert to Ta-- 
mar Whittemore 1777 ; Abigail to Reuben Whittemore, March 
2, 1779 ; Martha to Benjamin Green, June 16, 1785. 

Capt. John Newhall, was originally from Maiden. In 1741, 
he was married to Dorothy Newhall of Leicester, and in 1743 
came into possession of the farm of his brother in law, David Al- 
len, being part of lot 61, now owned by Daniel Hobbs, and the 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 123 

next year he purchased the remainder of the lot, where his son 
Allen afterwards lived, and where his grandson, Reuben New- 
hall now lives. The children of John Newhall were Allen, born 
July 3, 1743; John, November 26, 1745; Betsey, March 14, 
1748; Sarah, June 30, 1751 ; David, February 11, 1754; Mercy, 
May 6, 1756 ; Phebe, February 5, 1759. Allen Newhall was 
married to Rebekah Bemis, daughter of Samuel Bemis, July 2, 
1765, and again to Dolly Bemis daughter of Jonas Bemis, Feb- 
ruary 23, 1792. 

In 1743, Oliver Seager, from Newton, purchased the eastern 
end of lot 16, now owned by John Bigelow, where he lived until 
1750. He lived in various parts of the town and in 1770, pur- 
chased a part of lot 37, now owned by Nathan Prouty. He 
made some pretension to the profession of physic, was married to 
Lydia Clark July 12, 1749, and died April 4, 1803, aged 83. 
His children were Ephraim, born February 28, 1750 ; Lydia, Au- 
gust 8, 1752; Ruth, March 11, 1756; Caleb, June 14, 1758, 
Henry, August 26, 1760 ; Joshua Oliver, March 2, 1771. 

In 1743, Josiah Robinson, from Uxbridge, settled on the west 
end of lot 22, and built a house which is a part of the " Jenk's 
tavern" so called. He was married to Anna Barton in 1738. 
His children were Samuel, born July 24, 1742 ; William, June 
16, 1744 ; Joshua, June 2, 1747. In 1752, he removed from the 
town. His son William, father of the wife of Jacob Wilson, died 
in Charlton a few years since. 

The Family of Draper. The family of Draper trace their 
ancestry to Thomas Draper, who was born and lived in York- 
shire, England, in the Parish of Herapstontell and Vicarage of 
Halifax, and was by trade a clothier. He had six children, viz. 
Thomas, John, William, James, Mary and Martha, who all died 
in England, except James. He was born in 1618, and came to 
Roxbury, Massachusetts, but at what time is uncertain, but prob- 
ably between 1640 and 1650. The name of one of the first pro- 
prietors of the town of Lancaster 1654, was James Draper, and 
as no other person of that name is known to have been in this 
country at that time, it is probable he was the person. He was 



124 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

married to Miriam Standsfield, who came from the same place in 
England, some time after her husband, by whom he had five 
sons, viz, James, John, Moses, Daniel, and Jonathan. He died 
in July 1691, aged 73. His wife, Miriam, died in January 1697, 
aged 77, James Draper, son of James Draper, was born in Rox- 
bury, 1654, and was married to Abigail Whitney, by whom he 
also, had five sons, viz. Nathaniel, William, James, Gideon and 
Ebenezer, all born in Roxbury. The second James Draper died 
April 30, 1698, aged 44, and his wife Abigail died October 25, 
1721, aged 59, James Draper, son of the second James, was born 
about the year 1694, and was first married to Rachel Aldrich, 
who died early, leaving no children. He was again married to 

Abigail November 12, 1719. He lived inDedham, and had 

twelve children by his last wife, among Avhom was James, born 
September 22, 1720; Abigail, December 12, 1721; John, June 
16, 1723, and Joshua,|December 25, 1724, who all came to Spen- 
cer. John, came 1744, but died at Dedham, November 8, 1745. 
Abigail came previous, and was married to Henry White, a no- 
tice of whom, has been previously given, James and Joshua, 
settled on lots 33 and 34, which had been purchased by their 
father in 1736. James Draper 3d. died in April 1768, his wife 
Abigail having died November 12, 1767, just forty eight years 
after they were married. 

James Draper 4th, was married to Mehetable Whiting of Ded- 
ham, in 1742, by whom he[had Rebekah,born May 2, 1743; John, 
November 16, 1745; James, July 24, 1747; Ira, February 14, 
1753 ; Mehetable, August 29, 1756. Ira died young. Rebekah 
was married to Benjamin Bemis, son of Samuel Bemis, Novem- 
ber 17, 1768; John, to Rebekah Muzzy, December 24, 1770, 
James, to Mary Prouty, May 31, 1769; Mehetable to Noah For- 
bush, November 9, 1779. James Draper 4th, died March 2, 1781, 
aged 61. His wife, Mehetable died July 18, 1763. Joshua Dra- 
per, son of James Draper 8d, was married to Abigail Fairbanks. 
His children by her were, Joshua, born May 14, 1749 ; Sarah, 
March 19, 1751 ; Samuel, May 8, 1752; Abigail, May 2, 1756. 
His wife died February 17, 1762, and he was married to Sarah 
Wright of Brookfield, by whom he had Asa, born March 11, 1763 ; 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 125 

Simeon, March 29, 1765; Ira, February 18, 1767; Joel, June 
18, 1769; William, December 9, 1771. Sarah was married to 
Jonas Muzzy, May 2, 1771 ; Asa to Ruth Whittemore, July 7, 
1785, Simeon to Folly Bemis, August 24, 1786. 

Thomas Bridge, came from Lexington 1744, and settled on the 
Westerly part of lot 20, and built a house where Joshua Prouty 
now lives. He was married to Mary Harrington of Brookfield 
1745. . His children were Thomas, born October 3, 1746 ; George, 
February 8, 1748 ; Jane, June 18, 1752 ; Amos, June 26, 1755 ; 
Mary, April 10, 1757 ; Millacent, May 14, 1761 ; Jesse, January 
13, 1763; Esther, November 4, 1764. He removed to Shutes- 
bury in 1771, and was living in 1795. Thomas was married to 
Elizabeth Jones April 21, 1768. 

Kev. Joshua Eaton, purchased the Easterly part of lot 22 in 
1744. He built his house 1745, the same now owned by Wil- 
liam Pope, Esq., and is now in good repair, having been erected 
more than 95 years. (A sketch of Mr. Eaton and family will be 
given in another place.) 

Robert Morgan came from Beverly, and settled on the Easter- 
ly part of lot 53. His house stood on land now owned by Jona- 
than Grout, on the East side of the road, near where Samuel 
Baldwin formerly resided. His children by his wife Hannah 
were, Andrew, Robert and Isaac born in Beverly, and Israel, 
born in Spencer, August 24, 1744; Martha, June 1, 1747. 
Robert was married to Anna Jackson, June 15, 1758, and 
again to Mary Woodard, July 14, 1763. Isaac, was mar- 
ried to Abigail Tucker of Leicester, September 29, 1763. 
Martha, to Asa Thayer, August 28, 1769. Israel to Sarah Jack- 
son, May 24, 1770. 

Mathias Clark, settled on lot 23, in 1745, his house was situ- 
ated on the East side of the town road, about 30 rods South of 
the house of Washington Hill, who owns the farm. He was 
married to Lydia Eaton, sister of the Rev. Joshua Eaton. He 
had several children, viz., Lydia, who was married to Oliver 
Seagar, July 12, 1749. Rebekah, to David Barnes, December 
23, 1762. Anna, to Joseph Gibbs, of Brookfield, June 3, 1762. 
Sarah, to David Lamb 2d. September 2, 1767. Mary to Daniel 



126 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Hill, September 28, 1769. Martha, to Benjamin Sumner, 1771. 
Solomon, died in the revolutionary war. Esther, to Elisha 
Whitney, February 20, 17S3. Mr. Clark died 1780. His wife 
died in August 1800, aged 93. 

In 1745, Daniel Hubbard, from Worcester, settled on the 
West part of lot 53. He was married to Elizabeth Lynde of 
Leicester, March 2, 1748, by whom he had Jonathan, born June 
15, 1750, who settled in Paxton, was a Justice of the Peace, &c. 
lately deceased. Mr. Hubbard sold his farm to Robert Wood- 
ward, of Leicester, in 1750, and removed to Leicester. Eobert 
Woodward was married to Deliverance Demond, of Leicester, 
sister to Capt. Elijah Demond, January 20, 1743, by whom he 
had Betty, born September 13, 1744 ; Caleb, February 4, 1746 ; 
Phebe, May 15, 1758, Mr. Woodward sold the farm to Joseph 
Baldwin formerly from Maiden. 

In 1746, Joshua Whitney, settled on part of lot 5. He pur- 
chased the land of Dea. James Wilson, whose daughter Meheta- 
ble he married. His house stood about 30 rods, South-east of 
Dea. Wilson house, on land now owned by Sarah Wright. His 
wife died May 1, 1785. Mr. Whitney died the same year. His 
children were, Phinehas, born June 24, 1740 ; Lemuel, January 
5,1742; Bulah, June 3,1745; Elisha, January 8, 1747; John, 
May 4, 1751 ; Sibbilah, January 26, 1754 ; Mehetable, July 7, 
1756; Joshua, November 11, 1758; Susannah, August 15, 
1762. Bulah was married to John Ball, April 14, 1765. Josh- 
ua, to Esther Whitney, June 7, 1781. Elisha, to Esther Clark, 
February 20, 1783. Susannah, to William Hiscock of Westfield, 
February 5, 1784. 

In 1745, Oldham Gates, from Bolton, settled on the central 
part of lot 15. He was married to Mehetable Trowbridge of 
Framingham, 1745, by whom he had Mehetable, born June 13, 
1746 ; Susannah, June 7, 1748; Ruth, March 21, 1750; Jonas, 
June 27, 1752. His wife died, and he was married to Patience 
Bartlet, daughter of Nathaniel Bartlet, of Brookfield, November 
21, 1754, by whom he had John, born March 2, 1757; James, 
January 20, 1759 ; Thankful, July 9, 1760 ; Dorothy, Septem- 
ber 28, 1755. He sold his farm to Capt. Jonathan Wood, of 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 127 

Upton, who removed on to it 1767, and died February 4, 1796, 
aged 95. The farm in now owned by Eber Snow. 

In 1747, John Graham from Rutland, purchased and settled 
on the West part of lot 31, and built a house, since owned by 
Isaac Pratt, and now by Avery Bush. He was married to Jane 
Thompson by whom he had Robert, born June 19, 1747 ; An- 
drew, June 22, 1749; Kate, June 18, 1751; William, August 
28, 1753 ; Elizabeth, August 6, 1755; John, September 1, 1757; 
Jesse, March 31, 1760; Mary, June 6, 1762; Samuel, Septem- 
ber 19, 1764. Mr. Graham died March 17, 1776. His wife 
Jane died March 18, 1808, aged 87. John was married to 
Olive Prouty, May 30, 1780. Elizabeth, to Sylvanus Gates, 
April 4, 1780. Mary to James Bigelow, December 18, 1783. 
Jesse to Anna Parker, May 12, 1785, Kate to Kerley Ward of 
Paxton. 

Capt. Benjamin Johnson, was an early settler in Leicester, 
and removed from that town to Spencer 1747, and settled on a 
part of lot 21 and built a house which is yet standing and owned 
by Jesse Cutter. While in Leicester, he filled many honorable 
stations, and the first year of the incorporation of Spencer, he was 
chosen Moderator, Town Clerk, Treasurer, Selectman and 
Assessor ! His children by his wife Rebekah, were Rebekah, 
born May 4, 1719; Esther, May 8, 1721 ; Mary, April 30, 1724, 
Abigail, December 15, 1726. Rebekah, was married to Daniel 
Lynde of Leicester, May 1, 1740. Their children Avere John- 
son, born July 8, 1741 ; Esther, born . Johnson Lynde, was 

married to Abigail White. Esther, to Maj. William White. 
Mary Johnson, was married to Samuel Bemis, Jun,, November 
11, 1742. Abigail Johnson, was married to John Prouty, Octo- 
ber 9, 1745. Capt. Johnson died January 23, 1771. His widow 
died about 1780, aged more than 80 years. 

In 1747, David Knapp, from Newton, settled on the North 
part of 22, afterwards owned by Thomas White, Isaac Jenks, 
and since by James Draper, and Lewis Bemis. The house was 
on the hill about 50 rods Westerly of Moose Pond. He lived in 
various parts of the town and died on lot 28, now owned by Ca- 
leb M. Morse. His children by his first wife Sarah, were Anna, 



128 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

born October 4, 1741; John, May 27, 1744; Joseph, October 
16, 1745; David, June 30, 1750; Sarah, May 15,1752; Enoch, 
July 18, 1754. His wife died and he was married to Mehetable 
Rice of Spencer, September 27, 1759, by whom he had Nathan, 
born September 29, 1760. John was married to Ascenath Green, 
of Leicester, November 25, 1773. Sarah, to James Lamb, May 
4, 1775. Enoch, to Lydia Bemis, daughter of Edmund Bemis, 
November 28, 1782. 

In 1747, Deacon John Worster, came from Boxford and settled 
on the Easterly part of lot 20, and built a house, since owned by 
James Livermore, and Benjamin Drury, Esq., and on the same 
site of Amos Brown. He lived there many years, and then re- 
moved from the town, and left the farm to his son John. His 
children were, Phebe, who was married to Samuel Garfield, 2d., 
August 9, 1750, and lived on the farm lately owned by Ezra 
Bennet. Mr. Garfield died September 16, 1766, and she was 
married to William Watson, January 14, 1768, and lived on the 
same farm. Mary Worster, was married to Abel Woodard, De- 
cember 20, 1750, and lived where the house of Lory Grout now 
stands. John, who is well recollected by many now living, was 
married to Mary Muzzy, November 20, 1760. She died and 
he was married to Rebekah White, by whom he had several 
children. 

Samuel Garfield, from Weston, settled on the central part of 
lot 16, in 1748, where his grandson, Joseph now lives. He was 
born April 22, 1720. His first wife was Hannah, by whom he 
had one daughter named Hannah, who was born July 18, 1755. 
His wife died, and he was married to Abigail Peirce, of Holden, 
May 27, 1756, by whom he had Samuel, born March 5, 1756 ; 
Joseph, September 19, 1758; Daniel, September 29, 1760; 
Josiah, October 12,1762; Abigail, August 28,1764; Enoch, 
September 28, 1766; Elisha, April 25, 1769; John, July 26, 
1771 ; Elizabeth, September 15, 1773; Silas, January 19, 1776. 
Samuel Garfield died June 12, 1792, aged 72. His wife Abigail, 
died January 23, 1816. 

He was a large, athletic man, well recollected by many of 
our old people for his sallies of wit, feats of strength and cheerful 
disposition. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER, 129 

John White settled on the East part of lot 68, about 1748. 
He emigrated from England and settled in Framingham, where 
he followed the trade of a carpenter. While living there he was 
married to Sibbilah Buckminster, daughter of CoL Buckminster of 
the same town, who with her father emigrated from Scotland. "^ 

From Framingham he came to Spencer, and lived on the farm 
where his son John afterwards lived, now owned by Doct. 
Jonas Guilford. He died August 20, 1778, aged 84. His wife 
died October 23, 1794, aged 88. His children were John, Thom- 
as, Rebekah, Sarah, Sibbilah and Rand. The first five were 
born in Framingham. Rand, was born in Spencer, October 15, 
1751. John was married to Silence Baldwin, daughter of David 
Baldwin, May 5, 1757, His children were Silence, born January 
19, 1758; Buckminster, April 15, 1759; John, August 18, 1760. 
Samuel, February 17, 1762; Jonathan, December 8, 1763; An- 
na, October 17, 1765; Sarah, May 13, 1768; Ruth, July 28, 
1770; Nathan, June 9, 1772; David, May 18, 1774, John 
White, died September 18, 1803, 

Thomas was married to Abigail Muzzy, daughter of Deacon 
John Muzzy, December 30, 1756. His children were Thomas, 
born November 24, 1757 ; Thaddeus, July 16, 1759 ; Abigail, 
May 3, 1761; Mary, November 11, 1762; Benjamin, August 8, 
1764; Joel, May 3, 1766 ; Sibbilah, February 13, 1768; Nancy, 
May 25, 1769; Jonah, April 20, 1771; Elizabeth, July 1, 1774, 
Amos, February 6, 1776; John Bradshaw, February 1, 1778; 
Molly, September 2, 1782. Thomas White died February 25, 
1822, aged 90. His wife Abigail, died September 24, 1811, 
aged 72. Rand, was married to Mehetable Rice, Rebekah, to 
Capt, William Bemis, July 5, 1750. Sarah, to Joshua Bemis, 
September 18, 1755. Sibbilah, to David Baldwin, Jun. Janua- 
ry 9, 1763. Maj. Thomas Peirce, owns the farm of the late 
Thomas White. 

In 1748, Simeon Wilson, settled on the West part of lot 50, 

* Col. Joseph Buckminster, was 40 years a member of the Provincial 
Legislature of Massachusetts. Rev. Joseph Buckminster of Rutland, 
•was one of his sons, and consequently, brother to Mrs. White. 
17 



130 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

which in the early records was called " Orchard Hill," now own- 
ed by Paul Sibley. He was married to Dorothy Brown, of Lei- 
cester, in 1746. Their children were Thomas, born July 27, 
1748; David, February 22, 1750; Lydia, October 6, 1752; 
Pearly, December 2, 1754; Samuel, February 25, 1757; Dolly, 
April 20, 1759; Azubah, November 22, 1763; Phebe, May 6. 
1766; Simeon, June 13, 1768; Benjamin, August 9, 1770. 
Lydia, was married to Abel Wheeler, January 2, 1777. Dolly, 
to Jonathan Curtis, of Charlton, January 15, 1778. 

In 1748, Elisha Cranson purchased and settled on the East 
part of lot 50. He was married to Abigail Baldwin, daughter of 
David Baldwin, July 24, 1746. The farm is now owned by 
James Sprague. He afterwards lived in other parts of the 
town, until he removed to Ashfield, where he died in 1804, aged 
84. His children were Samuel, born February 20, 1748 ; David 
June 30, 1750; Elisha, February 19, 1752; Frederick, Februa- 
ry 20, 1754 ; Ebenezer, January 19, 1756 ; Elizabeth, February 
19, 1758; Asa, March 16, 1760; Abner, February 19, 1763. 
David was married to Bathsheba Briggs, December 20, 1770. 
Elizabeth, to Samuel Guilford. Mr. Cranson has one grand-child 
living in Spencer, viz. Roxa, the wife of James Kinney. 

Cornelius Goodnow, was from Rutland, and settled on the 
East part of lot 31, in 1748. He lived there several years ; not 
much however, is known respecting him. He had one son, by 
his wife Abigail, named Jonathan, born May 22, 1751. The 
land is now owned by Avery Bush. 

In 1749, William Drury, settled on the Northeast part of lot 
56, now owned by Warner Livermore. He was married to Lydia 
Adams, of Medway, 1752. His children were Joel, born De- 
cember 16, 1753; Lydia, July 13, 1757; Susannah, April 11, 
1763 ; Sarah, July 16, 1764. The two first died young. Su- 
sannah, was married to Capt. James Capen, May 5, 1785. Sa- 
rah, to John Woodard, 3d. May 5, 1784. William Drury, died 
1765. The farm was afterwards owned by John Watson. His chil- 
dren by his wife Dinah, were John, born March 6, 1762; Jacob, 
January 1,1765; Enoch, August 30,1767; Lydia, October 1, 
1769; Leonard, January 13, 1772; Henry, October 29, 1772; David, 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 131 

October 2, 1776 ; Sally, December 8, 1779. John Watson, died 
April 12, 1789, aged 59. His wife Dinah, died November 20, 
1802, aged 65. 

In 1749, David Bridges purchased lot 35, and built a house, 
lately pulled down, and a new one erected by Elisha Drake. 
His children by his wife Keziah, were David, born March 2, 
1751 ; John, December 7, 1752 ; Jonathan, January 14, 1755. 
His wife died July 28, 1755, and nothing further is now known 
of him. 

In 1750, William May, from Leicester, settled on the West 
end of lot 15. He was married to Mary Snow of Leicester, 
August 13, 1741. His children were Richard, born December 4, 
1743; David, 1745; Sarah, September 16, 1751; Mary, Octo- 
ber 14, 1754. He died 1757, and his widow was married to Ja- 
cob Stoddard, for his third wife. Sarah, was married to Lemuel 
Green. David was married to Mary Stoddard, April 5, 1764. 
He inherited the homestead. His children were William, born 
June 1, 1765 ; Esther, June 4, 1767 ; Samuel, September 19, 
1768; Phebe, January 29, 1771 ; Sibbil, May 27, 1773; Amos, 
October 16, 1775; Eunice, November 22, 1777; Joel, July 6, 
1780 ; Abigail, November 28, 1782. Mr. May unfortunately 
lost his whole estate, by a suit at law, having fought against 
government in Shay's insurrection. He removed to Vermont 
where he died. The farm is now owned by Maj. Eli Prouty. 

David Baldwin, was an early settler of this town. He remov- 
ed from Hingham, and settled on a part of lot 72, now owned by 
Joseph Hambry, about 1740. He was born 1701, and died about 
1777. He was the Architect of the present congregational meet- 
ing house, which was raised, June 9, 1772, although not com- 
pletely finished until 1776. His children were Abigail, Asa, 
David, Zebulon, Silence, Mary and Jonathan. Abigail, was 
married to Elisha Cranson, July 24, 1746. Asa, was a gentle- 
man of respectability, was often one of the selectmen, committee 
of correspondence, &c. an officer in the war of the revolution, and 
a Major in the home service. He was married to Abigail White, 
widow of Henry White, March 7, 1750. He settled on the ad- 
joining parts of the two lots 73 and 50, now owned by Caleb 



133 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Sibley. His children were Ruth, bom April 8, 1751 ; Chloe, 
October 12, 1755; Olive, May 15, 1758; Lucy, July 10, 1760. 
Ruth was married to Samuel Watson, of Leicester, January;j28, 
1773. Chloe, to James Sprague, May 4, 1779. Olive, to Peter 
Rice, November 12, 1778. Lucy, to Phinehas Jones, October 19, 
1786. 

David Baldwin, Jun. was married to Sibbilah White, June 9, 
1763. Silence, to John White, May 5, 1757 ; Mary, to Daniel 
Bacon, August 3, 1758. Jonathan Baldwin, was born 1742, and 
removed to Templeton, was there a Justice of the Peace, and the 
late Eden Baldwin, Esq. was one of his children. Jonathan Bald- 
win, Esq. married Sarah Bemis, daughter of Capt. William Bemis, 
of Spencer, for his second wife, November 23, 1782. Widow 
Ruth Watson, daughter of Maj. Asa Baldwin, is now living at 
the age of 90. 

In 1750, David and Robert Griffin, with their sister Issabel, 
settled on the East part of lot 12. They were born in Ireland in 
the county of Antrim and Parish of Bellowilling. David, was 
born in 1686 ; Issabel, in 1695, and Robert in 1697. They 
were all unmarried and so remained to their death. It is not 
known when they emigrated to New England, they however 
lived in Spencer, a few years before the date of their settlement. 
For a few years they were frugal and industrious, but the latter part 
of their lives, they all became intemperate, when they were hurri- 
ed to their graves in quick succession. David died December 14, 
1769, aged 88. Robert, July 16, 1770, aged 73. Issabel, July 
29, 1770, aged 75. They left no heirs in this country. A nephew, 
Robert Griffin, came from Ireland and inherited their estate. 
But he too, becoming intemperate, died a pauper in 1795. 

James Smith, Sen., though not an inhabitant of Spencer, yet he 
formerly owned part of lot 21, and as several of his children set- 
tled here, deserves to be mentioned. He was brother to Moses 
Smith, and was married to Dorcas Richardson, March 13, 1727. 
He settled on the farm adjoining Spencer, now owned by Robert 
Watson. He was one of the gallant band, who stormed and 
took possession of the fort of Louisburgh, on Cape Breton, in 
1745, and died there the same year. His children were James, 
born August 5, 1728; Abigail, September 5, 1733 ; Israel, October 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 133 

16, 1735; Nathaniel, September 16, 1738; Deborah, 1741; 
Bulah, October 29, 1743. His widow was married to Samuel 
Lynde, July 5, 1750, who continued to reside on the same farm, and 
while living there, his house was swept to the ground by a hur- 
ricane. 

James Smith, Jun. was married to Zeruiah Hubbard, of Wor- 
cester, 1751. He settled in Spencer, on part of lot 3, now owned 
by Capt. William Watson. They had one daughter, only, Lu- 
cretia, born December 16, 1753. She was married to Thomas 
Dunbar, and afterwards to Jonas Lamb, and is now living at the 
age of 87. Mr. Smith died from home in the war with France, 
and his widow was married to Jacob Upham. Abigail Smith, 
was married to John Lamb, and has been mentioned in another 
place. Deborah, was married to Elijah Howe, June 24, 1759, 
and both died in Spencer. Bulah, was married to Eleazer Col- 
lar, May 19, 1770. 

In 1751, Moses Livermore came from Weston, and settled on 
lot 77, since owned by his son Moses, now owned by Thomas 
Gilbert of N. Brookfield. He was a patriot of the revolution, 
and was one of the majority of grand jurors, at the Supreme Ju- 
dicial Court holden at Worcester, in April 1774, who signed a 
declaration and presented it to the court, therein stating that they 
should not proceed to business, if Chief Justice Oliver, who was 
a tory, should sit on the bench and preside. Judge Oliver, how- 
ever, did not appear, and the jurors discharged their duty. His 
children by his wife Sarah were, Isaac, born June 11, 1752 ; Sa- 
rah, July 21,- 1754 ; Moses , Hannah, November 21, 1760 ; 

Amos, June 5, 1763. He died October 18, 1797, aged 69. His 
widow removed into the State of New York, where she died. 
Sarah was married to Jonathan Parks, April 18, 1787 ; Moses to 
Mary Wilson, November 22, 1781 ; Amos to Catherine Sargent 
of Leicester, 1790. 

The family of Muzzy. Deacon John Muzzy was a very re- 
spectable gentleman, and a useful member of society in his day 
and generation. He was the son of John Muzzy, Innholder in 
Lexington, and was born in that town, May 10, 1714, and was 



134 HISTORY OF SPENCER, 

married to Abigail Reed, daughter of William Reed Esqr., of 
Lexington, November 11, 1736. She was born March 30, 1720. 
They had fifteen children, all at single births, and all lived to 
years of maturity. His eldest son, John, was born December 9, 
1737 ; Abigail, May 16, 1739. These two were born in Lexing- 
ton. In 1739, he removed to Rutland, where he had Thaddeus, 
born September 7, 1740 ; Mary, May 20, 1742 ; Olive, February 
7, 1744 ; Elizabeth Bradshaw, May 9, 1746 ; Jonas, January 2, 
1748 ; Rebekah, May 24, 1750 ; Sarah, April 24, 1752. In 1752, 
he removed to Spencer and purchased the farm now owned by 
John Bigelow. While there, his children were Bethiah, born 
June 22, 1754; Lucy, June 27, 1756; Dorcas, March 19, 1758; 
Amos, February 27, 1762 ; Edmund, August 25, 1763 ; Benja- 
min, August 14, 1765. Here his wife died February 16, 1766, 
aged 46, and he was again married to Eleanor Snow, widow of 
Jonathan Snow, May 14, 1778. He died June 25, 1789, aged 
75. While he lived in Rutland he was often chosen selectman, 
assessor, &:c., and while at Spencer he was town clerk for several 
years, selectman, assessor and other offices of responsibility. He 
was frequently employed as scribe in writing wills, deeds and 
other legal instruments. He was honored with a commission as 
Justice of the Peace from Governor Hutchinson dated March 18, 
1772, but he declined being qualified to act in the office. He 
was deacon in Mr. Eaton's and Mr. Pope's churches, being cho- 
sen June 12, 1753, which office he held until his death. 

His son John, was married to Mary Ball, November 26, 1761. 
Abigail to Thomas White, December 30, 1756 ; Mary to John 
Worster, November 20, 1760 ; Olive, to John Stebbings, October 
11, 1764 ; Elizabeth Bradshaw, to Jason Wright, January 21, 
1768 ; Jonas to Sarah Draper, May 2, 1771, she died June 14, 
1777, and he was again married to Abigail Lamb, June 9, 1778. 
Rebekah was married to John Draper, December 24, 1770 ; Sa- 
rah to Simeon Wood, December 24, 1771 ; Bethiah to Abner Ty- 
ler of Warren, December 1, 1774; Lucy to Asa Whittemore, 
March 2, 1775; Amos to Sarah Snow of Leicester; Edmund to 
Sarah Dwight of Leicester, November 25, 1785; Benjamin, to 
Elizabeth Inglee of Vermont, January 4, 1787. Thaddeus died 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 135 

August 12, 1759, aged 19. The first wife of John Muzzy, Jun. 
died April 23, 1785, and he was again married to widow Rebek- 
ah Bartlett of Brookfield, October 12, 1786. Sarah Muzzy, wife 
Edmund Muzzy, died May 23, 1719, He was again married to 
widow Jane Boyden. She died and he was again married to 
widow Lydia Bemis. Bethiah, Dorcas and Edmund are still 
living. The descendants of deacon Muzzy are very numerous. 

Jacob Upham in 1753, first settled on the Westerly part of lot 
16, afterwards owned by Isaac Prouty, senior. In 1757, he set- 
tled on the East end of lot 1, now owned by Samuel Adams. He 
was married to Sarah Stower of Maiden, 1751. By her he had 
Phebe, born July 23, 1752 ; Jacob, March 23, 1754, who died 
young, Abigail, January 24, 1756, His wife died June 21, 
1757, and he was married to Zeruiah Smith, widow of James 
Smith, April 1758, by whom he had Sarah, born December 13, 
1758 ; James, October 26, 1760 ; Mary, May 15, 1763 ; Lucy 
July 21, 1765; Esther, June 21, 1767; Elizabeth, March 21, 
1769; Jacob, August 12, 1771, and died May 1790, Abigail 
was married to Ebenezer Sanderson, December 4, 1777; Sarah, 
to Asa Washburn, November 16, 1780 ; Mary to Ebenezer Eas- 
terbrook, of Putney, December 25, 1783; Lucy to Hezekiah San- 
derson of Westminster, May 26, 1785 ; Elizabeth to John Grout, 
July 20, 1786. Esther to Isaac Palmer of Putney, October, 12, 
1786. Mr, Upham died by a fall from his horse, April 15, 1785, 
aged 56. 

Nathaniel Parmenter, came from Sudbury and settled on the 
south part of lot 77, in 1751 or 1752 ; the land was afterwards 
owned by Moses Livermore. He had by his wife Susannah, Ja- 
cob, born July 26, 1752; Nathaniel, May 12,1754; Susannah, 
July 4, 1756, His wife died and he was married to Mary Steb- 
bings, widow of Capt. John Stebbings ; June, 1757, by whom he 
had Nathan, born March 1, 1758, She proved to be an uncom- 
fortable wife, so much so, that preferring the hardships and dan- 
gers of the camp, to the enjoyments of home, he became a soldier 
in the war with France, where he died 1759.^ 

* It is related of Mr. Parmenter, that coining from his labor in the 



136 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Edward Wright settled on the northeast part of lot 33, in 1753, 
since owned by Stevens Hatch, and now by the town of Spencer. 
In 1770, he removed to Spencer. His children by his wife Try- 
phena were Jason ; Bezaleel, born February 29, 1752 ; Jane, May 
27, 1754; Jonathan, March 13, 1756; Annah, February 23, 
175S ; Jesse, February 2S, 17G0 ; Tryphena, October 2, 1761 ; 
Mary, May 21, 1763 ; Persis, Feb. 27, 1765; John, Jan. 7, 1768. 
Nathan was married to Mary Whittemore, October26, 1779; Bez- 
aleel to Eunice Hay ward of Holden, November 28, 1782; Jason 
to Elizabeth Bradshaw Muzzy ; Persis to John Bigelow, and is 
now living in Worcester. 

John Flagg came from Waltham, and purchased the tavern, and 
farm, formerly Josiah Robinson's, and since owned by Isaac 
Jenks. He kept a public house seven years, and 1761, he owned 
lot 69, and built the house now owned by Cheney Sumner. He 
removed to Waltham in 1767, were he kept a public house until 
his death. His children while in Spencer by his wife Patience, 
were, Patience, born May 21, 1755; John, April 15, 1762, 

John Bigelow, originally from Framingham, was married to 
Sarah Stebbings, daughter of Capt. John Stebbings, April 30, 
1756. He purchased and settled on lot 43, in 1766, and built 
the house now owned by William G. Muzzy. His chidren were 
John, born August 24, 1757; Joseph, December 6, 1759; Dan- 
iel ; James, June 7, 1762; Jabez, March 17, 1764; Wil-- 

fields to his house, on a sultry day, fatigued and thirsty and in a high 
state of perspiration, he descended by the way of a trap door, into his 
cellar for drink. His wife closed the door upon him, and placing her- 
self and linen wheel upon the door, there sat spinning very compla- 
cently, until she might finish her stint. In vain did he call upon her to 
release him from his gloomy prison — in vain did he urge that his health 
was endangered by the unwholesome damps of the cellar. Nor had 
promises or threats any better effect in moving the obdurate heart of his 
dear spouse, prayers, threats and complaints, all being drowned in the 
busy hum of her spinning wheel. After being kept in this unpleasant 
situation for several hours, he was kindly released by the interposition of 
a neighbor, when her husband very ungallantly administered to her a 
very severe castigation. Believing the French and Indians to be less 
formidable foes than those of his own household, he immediately entered 
the army, from whence he never returned. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 137 
liam, July 1, 1768; Sarah, October 3,1770; Elizabeth ; 



John was married to Persis Wright, and is living in Worcester. 
James to Mary Graham, December 18, 1783, and now lives in 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Bigelow was a man remarkable for his ath- 
letic feats and exploits of strength, though not large of size. He 
died April 19, 1774 aged 39. 

Deacon Eleazer Ball was born in Concord 1698, where he 

married his wife Abigail . He removed to Rutland about 

1719, having previously cleared a few acres and made some oth- 
er improvements. Being one of the first settlers of Rutland, 
when the town was almost an entire wilderness, he was not only 
annoyed by the bear and wolf, but more seriously by the Indians. 
In the month of August in each of the years 1723 and 1724, the 
Indians made incursions into the town, killing three persons at 
each time, one of whom was their minister, the Rev. Mr. W^illard. 
In one of these incursions, deacon Ball received a wound in the 
arm by a musket ball. He was deacon of the church in Rutland, 
selectman of the town, Jcc. His children by his first wife were, 
Eleazer, born 1728; Grace, 1730 ; Phinehas, 1732 ; Abigail, 1735 ; 
Sarah, 1737; Israel, 1739; Hannah, 1741. By his second wife 
Margaret, he had Mary, born 1744; John, 1747. His first wife 
Abigail, died October 9, 1741. He removed to Spencer in 1758, 
and purchased the farm formerly ownedby deacon James Wilson. 
Eleazer and some others of his children remained in Rutland, but 
Israel, Hannah, Mary and John came to Spencer. Israel was 
married to Persis Stone of Leicester, April 17, 1760; Hannah, 
to David Prouty, November 24, 1761 ; Mary to John Muzzy, 
November 26, 1761 ; John to Bulah Whitney, April 14, 1765. 
Deacon Ball died March 29, 1765, aged 67. He has one grand- 
child, David Prouty, and some of the fourth, fifth and sixth gen- 
erations living in Spencer. 

Benjamin Green, came from Leicester, and settled on the East 
end of the school lot. He lived there but two years, when he 
sold to Thomas White, now owned by Maj. Thomas Pierce. He 
then removed on to lot 78, where he died. There is no record of 
any children born in Spencer. He was married to Lucy Mars- 
ton of Spencer, December 10, 1754. His son Benjamin, was 
18 



138 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

born in Leicester, December 26, 1755. He was married to Mar- 
tha Watson, daughter of deacon Oliver Watson, June 16, 1785. 
He inherited his father's estate, and died there, 

John Elliot, Esqr. came from New Haven, Conn. 1760. He 
was of honorable parentage, being a descendant of the Eev. John 
Elliot, first minister of Roxbury, the celebrated " Apostle of the 
Indians," who came to this country from England, in 1631, and 
died 1690, aged 86. He owned the mansion house, afterwards 
owned by Isaac Jenks, and about 440 acres of land. He was a 
gentleman of some distinction — well educated, lived in a style of 
affluence and considered wealthy, paying much the largest tax in 
town. He was appointed Justice of the Peace, by Governor Ber- 
nard, January 1, 1762, and was often one of the selectmen, Town 
Clerk, Moderator, &c. After remaining in the town about ten 
years, he removed again to New Haven, and tradition reports 
that he afterwards became unfortunate in business and reduced 
to poverty. He had two sons educated at Harvard University. 

Jeremiah Whittemore came from Weston, and purchsed 200 
acres of the East part of lot 24, in 1760. He fitted up the large 
rnansion house, built by Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham for a tavern, 
which he continued to superintend as a public house, personally, 
forty five years. He had several children before he came to 
Spencer, viz. Asa, Reuben, Mary, Tamar, Sybil, &c. While in 
Spencer, his children were Aaron, born March 1, 1762; Esther, 
December 28, 1464; Jeremiah, February 21, 1766; Sarah, 
March 16, 1768 ; Asa was married to Lucy Muzzy, March 2, 
1775; Reuben, to Abigail Watson, March 2, 1779; Mary to Na- 
than Wright, October 26,1779; Sybil to Reuben Underwood, 
February 3, 1791 ; Jeremiah to Polly Washburn, of Paxton, Feb. 
21, 1792; Sarah to Ebenezer Kingsbury, May 9, 1797 ; Tamar 
to Robert Watson. Mr. Whittemore died May 14, 1803, aged 
79. His wife, Mary, died July 14, 1802, aged 78. 

The ancestors of the family of Baldwin emigrated from Eng- 
land at an early period. One, by the name of Joseph, settled in 
Maiden, and his grandson, also, named Joseph, removed from 
Charlton to Spencer and purchased the Westerly part of lot 53, 
in 1760, now owned by his grandson, William Baldwin, Esqr. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 139 

His children were, Joseph, Samuel, William, Levi and Zorobabel, 
born before he came from Charlton ; and Sarah, born in Spencer, 
1761. Levi was married to Sarah Bemis, June 25, 17S9, and 
again to Lydia Haven, December 30, 1790, Samuel to Elizabeth 
Livermore, August 19, 1790, and again to Huldah Hamilton, of 
Brookfield, February 16, 1796 ; Sarah to Nicholas Morgan, April 
April 11, 1799 ; Zorobabel, to Persis Bemis, March 27, ISOO, and 
again to Hannah Grout, March 19, 1812. Mr. Baldwin died 
June 3, 1790, aged 73. His wife Mary, died January 7, 1795, 
aged 77. 

Abijah Livermore, from Weston, settled on the Easterly part 
of lot 76, in 1761, His children by his wife Anna, were Ezra, 
born February 13, 1762 ; Anna, November 17, 1763 ; Abijah, 
February 22, 1766; Lot, June 6, 176S; Martha, November 11, 
1772; Phinehas, March 28, 1775; Phebe, October 7,1777; 
Jesse, February 9, 1780. His wife died October 14, 1793, aged 
53, and he was married to Mrs. Sarah Howe, of Rutland, 1795. 
She died January 4, 1815. He died January 18, 1817. Abijah 
was married to Rebekah Livermore, February 1, 1791 ; Phinehas 
to Polly Lacky, January 4, 1798. 

In 1761, Luke Converse, from Charlton, purchased and settled 
on the Northeasterly part of lot 58, where he built a saw and 
grist mill, now owned by Elias Bemis and Hiram Howe. Mr. 
Converse was born in Leicester 1734, and was married to Ruth 
Lamb of Spencer, June 6, 1759. She was born December 28, 
1737. His children were Lydia, born February 10, 1760 ; Jude, 
May 17, 1762; Ruth, October 31, 1764; Patience, March 24, 
1767 ; Reuben, April 25, 1769 ; Esther, November 20, 1771 ; 
Asaph, April 22, 1774; Tamar, August 29, 1776; Uriah, March 
13, 1779. Mr. Converse died at Leicester, June 10, 1810, aged 
76. His wife died January 9, 1821, aged 83. Jude was mar- 
ried to Lydia Bemis, daughter of Samuel Bemis, December 10, 
1782; Patience, to Nathan Prouty, September 30, 1784; Ruth, 
to Jonathan White, November 30, 1786 ; Reuben to Pamelia 
Stevens, December 18, 1788 ; Esther to Nathaniel Bemis, Octo- 
ber 23, 1791 ; Tamar to Daniel E. Adams, April 13, 1795; Uri- 
ah to Esther Lackey, May 12, 1799. 



140 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

In 1762, Samuel Flagg,from Waltham, brother of John Flagg-, 
settled on the East end of lots 29, and 36, since owned by Elijah 
Howe. He afterwards removed onto lot 67, now owned by Jonas 
Guilford 2d, where he died. His children by his wife Grace, 

were Susannah , Sarah, born March 17, 1763 ; Samuel, 

July 24, 1765; Hannah, September 19, 1767; Esther , 

Polly , Josiah . Susannah was married to Solomon 

Cook, of Charlton, February 20, 1782 ; Hannah to Elias Adams, 
December 24, 17S9 ; Esther to James Adams of Brookfield, April 
26, 1791 ; Sarah to John Guilford, May S, 1793 ; Polly to John 
Bemis of Paxton, July 5, 1796; Josiah to Mary Adams of Brook- 
field, December 29, 1796. 

Samuel Tucker was born in Roxbury, and was the fourth son 
of Benjamin Tucker, one of the original proprietors of Leicester 
and Spencer.^ He removed to Leicester early, and was married 
to Hannah Sylvester, of that town, June 19, 1740. He remained 
in Leicester until 1762, when he removed to Spencer, and pur- 
chased and built a house on the Easterly part of lot 42, now 
owned by Amos Bemis. His children were Sarah, born April 
25, 1741 ; Samuel, January 8, 1743; Hannah, February 3, 1745 ; 
Isaac, December 15, 1746; Ruth, November 17, 1748; Elijah, 
1751 ; Huldah, April 1, 1755; Ezekiel, August 29, 1757. Sa- 
rah was married to David Baldwin of Leicester, September 22, 

1774 ; Samuel to Livermore of Leicester. Hannah died 

July 22, 1766; Elijah died of the small pox. May 11, 1777. 
Ezekiel was married to Hannah Phillips, March 28, 1782. She 
died September 9, 1784, and he was married to Elizabeth Phelps 
of Brookfield, August 1786. He inherited the homestead and 
died January 29, 1814, aged 57. 

About 1762, Capt. Joseph Livermore, brother to Moses and 
Abijah, settled on the Westerly part of lot 77, now owned by 
Asa and Amos Wilson. He was an officer in the revolution and 

* Benjamin Tucker died at Roxbury, 1728. His estate was appraised 
at £1491 23. and settled at the Probate office in Boston, 1738. Among' 
the items of charge are £0 9s. Od. for digging grave and tolling bell. 
For wine £4 lis. Od. For gloves, £S 3s. Gd. Paid Caleb Lyman for 
mourning, £17 15s. 8d. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 141 

a Lieutenant at the battle of Bunker Hill. His children by his 
wife Anna, were Anna, born September 10, 1764; Reuben, May 
9, 1769 ; Joseph, August 20, 1775. After the death of his first 
wife, he was married to Mrs. Martha Maynard of East Sudbury, 
17S6. He removed from Spencer. Anna was married to Josh- 
ua Rich, March 1, 1781 ; Reuben to Sally Gould of Sutton, 
1790. 

John Bisco, Esqr., from Cambridge, settled on the central part 
of lot 17, in 1763, where his grandson, Foster Bisco, now lives. 
Being a gentleman of good education, and sound judgment, and 
sustaining an unblemished moral character, he soon acquired the 
confidence of his fellow townsmen, and was promoted to the 
highest offices of honor and trust in their gift. He was either 
Town Clerk, Selectman, Assessor or Treasurer, every year from 
1767, to his death. Was a representative to the General Court 
for 1777, 1780 and 1781, and a member of the Convention for 
forming our State Constitution in 1779. Was chosen deacon of 
the Congregational Church, which he continued to hold during 
his life ; was appointed Justice of the Peace by Governor Hancock, 
March 1, 1781. He was married to Deborah Prouty, May 10, 
1764. His children were John, born May 29, 1765. Elizabeth, 
October 9, 1767 ; Abljah, February 7, 1770 ; Jacob, June 12, 
1772 ; Abigail, July 25, 1777; Anna, March 8, 1780. His wife, 
Deborah, died February 22, 1795, aged 52, and he was again 
married to Mrs. Esther Moore, of Worcester in November of the 
same year. The following inscription is on his tombstone. 
" In memory of 
John Bisco, Esqr. 
who died March 15, 1808, aged 70 yrs. 
As a magistrate, he was correct, faithful and impartial, as a 
christian, he was devout, pious and exemplary; as a man and a 
citizen, he was honest, dignified and patriotic. 

Come christian, see a brother dying — 

See him yielding up his breath; 

While firmly on his God relying, 

Quite disarms the sting of death." 
Elizabeth Bisco was married to Enoch Mason, July 15, 1790 
Jacob to Sarah Draper, January I, 1799. Abigail to David 



142 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Prouty, Jun. November 7, 1799. Anna, to George W. Harwood, 
of Brookfield, December 13, 1807. 

In 1763, Benjamin Gleason, from Sudbury, purchased lot 70, 
and the next year removed his family there. He was married 
to Dorothy Allen, while at Sudbury, and had three children, viz. 
Benjamin, Elisha and Mary. While in Spencer, his children 
were Josiah, born July 27, 1765; Phinehas, June 3, 1767; Dol 
ly, November 7, 1770; John, August 16, 1772; Rebekah, April 
21, 1774; Samuel, May 8, 1779^' Mr. Gleason, died October 
15, 1818. Benjamin, was married to Sarah Underwood, Febru- 
ary 24, 1785. John, to Sally Cheney, of Sutton, 1805. Phine- 
has , to Betsey Faucett, March 14, 1808, Rebekah, to Thaddeus 
White, Esq. of Washington, Vermont, January 14, 1810. Sam- 
uel, to Nancy Draper, February 3, 1811. 

Capt. Ebenezer Mason, from Watertown, settled on the West- 
erly part of lot 17, in 1764, now owned by William Bemis. In 
1774, he removed on to the central part of lot 22, and built the 
house, now owned by his grandson, Joseph Mason. He was a 
man of respectability, was captain in the revolutionary war, and 
often employed in civil offices of responsibility. He had by his 
wife Elizabeth, before he came to Sppncer, two sons, Ebenezer 
and William. While in Spencer, he had Elliot, born March 23> 
1766; Enoch, ; Elizabeth, August 18, 1772; Joseph, De- 
cember 15, 1774; Susannah, September 9, 1777; Isaac, Febru- 
ary 5, 1782. Capt. Mason, Died March 26, 1798, aged 66. His 
widow died September 18, 1812, aged 78. Ebenezer, was mar- 
ried to Judith White, December 22, 1785. William, to Nancy 
White, July 7, 1791. Enoch, to Elizabeth Bisco, July 15, 1790. 
Joseph, to Elizabeth White, March 11, 1802. Isaac, to Asce- 
nath Prouty, February 19, 1805. Elizabeth, to Moses Hall. 
February 23, 1809. Ebenezer Mason, Jun. was married to Sal- 
ly Beers, for his second wife, September 2, 1794. 

David Barnes from Leicester, settled on the South-east part of 
lots 46 and 47, in 1766, now owned by Willington Hill. He 
was married to Rebekah Clarke, December 23, 1762. His wife 
died May 10, 1797. Mr. Barnes died March 9, 1814. 

David Livermore, from Leicester, settled on the Southerly 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 143 

part of lot 59, about 1770, now owned by his son David Liver- 
more. He was married to Anna Haywood of Holden. Mrs. 
Livermore, died January 12, 1794, and he was again married to 
Mary Osborne of Holden, sister to his former wife, November 
17, 1796. Mr. Livermore, died December 13, 1818, aged 74. 

In 1783, Israel Allen, from Shrewsbury, settled on lot 13. 
This lot was then an entire wilderness, and the only remaining 
one in Spencer, then in a state of nature. But by the industry 
of himself and sons, much of the forests soon disappeared ; a 
house and barn were built, and soon after a saw and grist mill. 
Mr. Allen, was a soldier of the revolution and fought at the bat- 
tle of Bunker Hill. His wife Thankful, died October 25, 1805, 
aged 60, and he was again married to Mrs. Sarah Bennet, 1807. 
She died, 1818. Mr. Allen, died July 17, 1833, aged 90. The 
farm is now owned by his Grandson, Pliny Allen. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Doct. James Ormes, son of John Ormes, wast he first practising 
physician in Spencer. He came from Watertown there with his 
father 1732, when there were few people in the town, and con- 
sequently, but few patients. He is still remembered by a few 
old people, particularly for his loud stentorian voice, as leader of 
the choir for sacred music. He was married to Frances Hinds of 
Brookfield, 1733, and again to Kachel Howe of Maiden, 1736, and 
again to Tabitha Wright, of Framingham, 1742. His children 
were Rebekah, born 1744 ; Mary, 1746 ; James, 1748 ; Tabitha, 
1751. Doct. Ormes died 1785, aged 75. 

Doct. Asa Burden, was from Scituate, Rhode Island. He 
studied his profession with Doct. Honeywood, of Leicester, who 
was an eminent practitioner. Doct. Burden, settled on the 
South-west part of lot 47, in 1769, now owned by Joshua Syl- 
vester. He was married to Deborah Howland, of Scituate, 1771. 
He had several children, viz. Mary and Esther, who died 
young ; John, born 1775 ; Samuel, 1777, and Ebenezer, born 
August 15, 1779, who was a physician in Charlton. While 
Doct. Burden, practised in this town, he was quite as eminent for 
his oddities and eccentricities, as for his skill in the art of healing. 



144 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

About 17S0, he returned to his native place, but afterwards re- 
moved to Charlton where he died. 

Doct. William Frink, was the soti of Rev. Thomas Frink, first 
minister of Rutland, where he was born December 14, 1742. 
He was married to Sarah Eaton, daughter of Rev. Joshua Eaton, 
of Spencer, May 3, 1772. He commenced practice as a physi- 
cian in the house where he married his wife, and afterwards 
purchased and settled on the farm now owned by Edmund Muz- 
zy. He was a physician well educated and of good standing in 
the community. His children were William Eaton, born 1774; 
Sarah, 1776; Polly, 1778; Issabel Wright, 1780. He removed 
to Rutland, 1783, where he died by a fall from a load of hay. 

Benjamin Drury, Esq. was born in the town of Auburn, (Ward 
formerly,) April 1758. He studied the profession with Doct. 
FIske of Oxford, and commenced the practice of physic at Fran- 
cistown, in New Hampshire. He continued there for a short pe- 
riod, and 1782, he came into Spencer, and continued in regular 
practice, more than forty years. Besides practising as physician, 
he was honored with the office of Representative to the General 
Court, for seventeen years in succession, a Selectman, sixteen 
years in succession, and Town Clerk successively, with the ex- 
ception of one year, thirty-three years. He was also honored with 
a commission as Justice of the Peace, and besides much other 
official business he joined together, for better or worse, more 
than two hundred couples, in the bands of matrimony. He is now 
out of practice, and living at the age of 83. He was married in 
early life to Elizabeth Lamed of Oxford, who died 1820. 

Doct. Jonas Guilford, was born in Spencer, August 25, 1759, 
and was married to Lydia Hobbs, of Brookfield. He studied his 
profession, with Doct Babbit, of Sturbridge, and commenced 
practice in his native town, 1783, and continued in practice, 
twenty-six years. He died July 17, 1809, aged 50. 

Doct. Cheney Potter, was from North Brookfield, and was a 
pupil of Doct. Jacob Kittredge, of the same town, a celebrated 
surgeon and quite a popular physician. He commenced practice 
about 1807, and continued several years. He returned to his 
native town, and is now deceased. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 145 

Doct. Asa Jones, -was a native of Charlton, and was a student 
with Doct. Eaton, of Dudley, and Doct. Lamb, of Charlton. He 
commenced practice in 1811, and continued for twenty years. 
He died in October 1S34, aged 44. 

Doct. Jonas Guilford, son of Doct. Guilford, was born in Spen- 
cer, November 10, 17S8. He was student with Doct. Babbit, of 
Brookfield, a distinguished surgeon and physician. He is now 
in regular practice. 

Several other physicians have been in practice in Spencer, for 
longer or shorter periods, viz. Jacob Kittredge, Jun., John 
McClure, George S. Smith, John M. Smith, Jason C. Spalding, 
Jedediah Amidon, Reuben Spalding, JoelVaile, Luther Bugbce 
and Aaron Green, who has just commenced practice. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 

OP THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED A COLLEGIATE EDUCATION, WHO 
WERE INHABITANTS OF SPENCER.* 

Henry Bright, H. U. graduated 1770. Was son of Widow 
Bright, who Was afterwards Wife of Benjamin Bemis, Senior. 
He died soon after leaving college. 

John Elliot, H. U. 1772. Was son of John Elliot, Esq. He 
commenced preaching, but proved a profligate character. De- 
ceased. 

Joshua Eaton, H. U. 1773. Was son of Rev. Joshua Eaton. 
He studied no profession. Deceased. 

Richard Roswell Elliot, H. U. 1774. Was minister at Water- 
town. Deceased. He was also son of John Elliot, Esq. 

John Elliot Eaton, H. U. 1777. Was son of Rev. Joshua 
Eaton. Was a Physician at Dudley. Died 1812. 

Nathan Muzzy. D. C. 1786. Was son of John Muzzy, Jun. 
of this town. Commenced preaching but soon abandoned it, and 
emigrated to the State of Ohio. Supposed to be dead. 

Abijah Bisco, D. C. 1798. Was son of John Bisco, Esq. 
Was a candidate for the ministry, and a promising young man. 
He died 1801. 

* Note. H. U. stands for Harvard University. D. C. Dartmouth College. B. U- 
Browa University. Y. C. Yale College. W. C. WilliamsCollege. 

19 



146 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

Joseph Pope, D. C. 1798. Was son of Rev. Joseph Pope. Is 
now Attorney at law in Portland, Maine. 

Nathan Guilford, Y. C. 1812. Was a practising attorney some 
years in Maine, and Kentucky. Now a resident in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. 

William Watson, B. U. 1818. Was son of Oliver Watson. 
He studied no profession. Is now absent to parts unknown. 

Warren Hobbs, H. U. 1822. Was son of Daniel Hobbs. Be- 
ing out of health he made a voyage to Europe, and returned with 
improved health. Taught a school two years in Virginia, and 
sometime in Tennessee. Was drowned from a steamboat in the 
Mississippi, July 11, 1826, aged 34. 

Besides these, David Draper, was a student at W. C. about 
two years, 1796-7, and Dexter Bemis, the same length of time at 
H. U. They were both dismissed by their own request. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

The following is a list of those who have held commissions as 
Justices of the Peace in Spencer. 

Namesi Date of commissions. Names. Date of commissions. 

John Elliot, 1762 Dead. Frederick Howe, 

John Muzzy, 1772 Do. William Pope, 1827 
John Bisco 1781 Do. Walton Livermore, 1835 Dead. 

Benjamin Drury, 1789 William Baldwin, 1835 

Jonas Bemis, 1809 Walter Sibley, 1839 

James Draper, 1810 Daniel Capen, 1840 

COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE, INSPECTION 
AND SAFETY. 

During the agitations and struggles of the first period of the 
revolution, most of the officers under the influence of the Crown, 
were found on the side of loyalty, supporting power and preroga- 
tive. The people had withdrawn their confidence from these, 
and their official conduct was viewed with distrust. As there 
were but few Post Offices at that time, and many of the Post 
Masters were tories, the correspondence of the whigs was sub- 
jected to a system of rigid espionage j they had therefore, to seek 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 147 

for other, than the usual channels of conveying the necessary in- 
formation among the people. Boston was the head quarters of 
the opposition to the unconstitutional and arbitrary measures of 
Eoyal authority, and there, most of the great plans were matured, 
and thence, sent abroad among the people, the influence of which, 
like a mighty wind, moved the whole country. It became neces- 
sary that there should be some confidential persons appointed in 
every town, to whom such communications might be made with 
safety and effect. Hence, originated the " Committees of Cor- 
respondence," which were sometimes called " Committees of 
Correspondence, Safety and Inspection," They were composed 
of some of the leading and influential persons among the whigs. 
These political officers were appointed in Boston and some other 
large towns, in the earliest part of the political contest, but were 
not general, until about 1774. They became a very important 
means of enlightening the public mind, of devising plans, of de- 
veloping the physical resources of the country, and of finally car- 
rying to maturity, the great objects of the revolution. In many 
cases, they had concurrent jurisdiction with the selectmen of the 
towns. They were soon recognized by the legislature, as of le- 
gal and official authority, and important duties were devolved 
upon them by the General Court. They were in fact the direc- 
tors and managers of the great political drama, which was in 
preparation for general action throughout the country, and we 
owe much to this little band of patriots, who spent many anxious 
days and nights, who freely contributed their treasures, and many 
of them their blood, to effect and secure to themselves and their 
offspring the blessings of liberty. They were elected in the sev- 
eral towns in the same manner as other municipal officers. The 
first notice of the choice of officers in this town, was 1775, al- 
though, in 1774, three persons were chosen to carry into effect 
the nonimportation act, agreeable to a resolve of Congress, and 
who acted substantially, in the same capacity as committees of 
correspondence. 

The following are the names of the persons, who were chosen 
in this town, during the several years of the revolution. 

1774. John Cunningham, Oliver Watson, Asa Baldwin. 



148 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

1775. Oliver Watson, Moses Livermore, John Muzzy. 

1776. Asa Baldwin, Jeremiah Whittemore, Joshua Draper, 
David Prouty, Knight Sprague, Benjamin Gleazen. 

1777. Asa Baldwin, Jeremiah Whittemore, Knight Sprague, 
Joshua Draper, Benjamin Gleazen. 

1778. Joshua Lamb, John Muzzy, Joshua Barton, John 
Worster, John Watson. 

1779. James Livermore, Benjamin Gleazen, John Worster, 
John Muzzy, Jacob Upham. 

1780. John Muzzy, Johnson Lynde, John Sumner, Benjamin 
Bemis, Jonas Muzzy. 

1781. John Sumner, Jonas Muzzy, Johnson Lynde, Jeremiah 
Whittemore, Nathaniel T. Loring. 

1782. Asa Baldwin, Jeremiah Whittemore, Capt. Ezekiel 
Newton. 

1783. James Hathaway, Jonas Muzzy, Isaac Morgan. 

1784. James Livermore, Jeremiah Whittemore, John Watson. 

PROPERTY AND WEALTH OF OUR ANCESTORS. 

By a culpable neglect on the part of some of our former town 
officers, the records of the valuation of the estates, and taxes of 
the inhabitants, have not been preserved, until a period of less 
than fifty years past. Consequently, there are no data, by which 
a correct estimation may be formed, of the wealth and relative 
amount of property of the inhabitants of Spencer during the last 
century. In 1771, the year previous to the erection of the pres- 
ent meeting house, the following method was taken in making 
disposition of the pews. He or she, whose Real Estate stood the 
highest in the valuation, had the right for the first choice for a 
pew, at an appraised value — the second highest in valuation, had 
the next choice, and so on, until the whole were disposed of. In 
this way, the relative standing of sixty-eight of the largest land- 
holders, may be known seventy years ago. This, however, was 
not confined to resident proprietors of lawful age, but non-resi- 
dents and minors had the same privilege. In justice, however, it 
must be observed, that Jonas Bemis, John Hill, and perhaps some 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



149 



others, who did not belong to the society, but whose real estates, 
otherwise, would have entitled them to a choice of pews, were 
not included in the calculation. 

The following are the names of the sixty-eight persons refer- 
red to, numbered according to the relative value of their real es- 
tate. 

32 John Muzzy 

33 Nathaniel Bemis 

34 John Graham 
3-'5 David Baldwin, Jun, 



1 John Elliot, Esq. 

2 John Sumner, Esq. 

3 Oliver Watson 

4 Asa Baldwin 

5 William Bemis 

6 John Cunningham 

7 Jeremiah Whittemore 

8 Joshua Bemis 

9 Moses Livermore 

10 John White, Jun. 

11 John Prouty 

12 David Adams 

13 Joshua Lamb 

14 Josiah White 

15 John Lamb 

16 Joseph Greenwood 

17 Isaac Prouty 

18 Thomas White 

19 James Draper 

20 Joshua Draper 

21 Jacob Prouty 

22 John Watson 

23 John Ball 

24 John Worster 

25 Johnson Lynde 

26 Joseph Wilson 

27 Joshua Whitney 

28 Simeon Wilson 

29 William White 

30 John Bisco 

31 Thomas Canada (a minor) 



36 David Lamb 

37 Nathaniel Cunningham 

38 John Stebbings 

39 Samuel Garfield 

40 Archibald Lamond's Estate 

41 Samuel Hall 

42 Elizabeth Prouty (Widow 

of David Prouty) 

43 Ebenezer Mason 

44 Luke Converse 

45 Benjamin Bemis, Jun. 

46 Abij ah Livermore 

47 Benjamin Gleazen 

48 David Adams, Jun. 

49 Joseph Livermore 

50 Isaac Rice 

e51 Jonathan Snow 

52 Robert Morgan 

53 David Knapp 

54 Jonathan Ward (non-resi 

dent) 

55 Zebulon Baldwin 

56 Isaac Southgate 

57 Israel Ball 

58 Oliver Watson, Jun. 

59 David Prouty 

60 Phinehas Whitney 



"150 HISTORY OF SPENCER. 

61 John Knapp 65 Joel Green 

62 David Barnes 66 Nathaniel Parmenler's heirs 

63 John Wilson 67 William Watson 

64 Lemuel Whitney 68 Andrew Morgan. 

AGED PERSONS. 

Spencer has been somewhat notorious for the longevity of 
many of its inhabitants. The deaths of many of our oldest people 
have not been placed on record, but the following catalogue 
shows the times of the deaths of some of the oldest persons, with 
their ages, all collected from authentic sources, with the excep- 
tion of Knight Sprague, which is probably nearly correct. 

Names. Time of decease. Age. 



Robert Cunningham, 


1766 






89 


Archibald Lamond, 


1771 






94 


Margaret, his wife, 


1775 






89 


Elizabeth Ormes, 


1785 






100 


John Read, 


1787 






88 


John Cunningham, 


1789 






89 


Jonathan Wood, 


1796 






94 


Experience Ward, 


1798 






91 


Lydia Clark, 


1800 






93 


Knight Sprague, 


1804 






93 


Asa Baldwin, 


1811 






89 


Abigail, his wife, 


1817 






94 


Thomas White, 


1822 






90 


Elizabeth Saddler, 


1828 




• 


94 


Robert Luther, 


1829 






91 


Israel Allen, 


1833 






90 


Daniel Hill, 


1837 






93 


Mary, his wife. 


1830 






87 


Olive Stebbings, 


1840 






96 


The following aged persons 


are now living 


and in 


.the enjoy- 


ment of health. 










William Watson, 90 




Ruth Watson, 


90 


Elijah Hersy, 90 




Jesse Cutter, 


88 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



151 



Lucy Watson, 


87 


Nathan Grage, 


87 


Lucretia Lamb, 


87 


Joseph "Wheat, 


86 


Jesse Cutter's wife, 


86 


Anna Pope, 


86 



SELECTMEN 

Si7ice the incorporation of the toivn, including a period of 88 
years, specifying the years in which they were chosen. 



John Wooster, 1653, 55, 57, 58, 

61, 62. 

John Cunningham, 1753, 54. 
John Muzzy, 1753, 54, 55, 56, 58, 

59, 60, 61, 62. 64, 65, 70, 72, 

74. 
James Wilson, 1753. 
Benjamin Johnson, 1753,54, 55, 56, 

63. 
John White, 1754. 
Asa Baldwin, 1754, 57, 59, 63, 64, 

65, 67, 68, 69, 71. 
Oliver Watson, 1755, 61, 62, 63, 64, 

m, 67, 68, 69, 71, 75. 
John Newhall, 1755, 58. 
Joshua Lamb, 1756, 57, 58, 60, 61, 

62, 70,71,72,73. 

Samuel Bemis, Jun. 1756, 57, 58, 60. 

David Adams, 1756, 70. 

James Draper, 1757, 63,70, 71,73. 

John Flagg, 1759, 60. 

Eleazer Ball, 1759. 

Edmund Bemis, 1759. 

James Ormes, 1760, 61, 65, 66, 67, 

68,69,70,71,72,74,76. 
John Elliot, 1762, 63, 64, 65, 66. 
William Bemis, 1764, 65, 66, 67, 

68, 69, 72, 73, 74, 77, 78. 
John Prouty, 1766. 
Moses Livermore, 1767, 68, 69, 72, 

73, 74, 75, 76. 
John Bisco, 1773, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 

79, 80, 81, 83. 
Benjamin Gleazen, 1775, 77, 80. 



David Prouty, 1775, 76, 80, 81, 82, 

83, 87, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 
99, 1800. 
John White, Jun. 1777, 78, 79, 80, 

81, 82, 83. 
Aaron Hunt, 1777, 78. 
Elijah Howe, 1778, 87, 88, 89, 91. 
William Frink, 1779. 
Isaac Jenks, 1779. 
Josiah White, 1779. 
John Stebbings, 1780, 81, 82 83. 
William White, 1781, 82,92,93, 

94, 95, 96, 97. 
John Worster, 1782. 
David Lamb, 1783. 
John Muzzy, Jun. 1784, 1790. 
William Green, 1784, 85, 86. 
John Sumner, Jun. 1784, 85, 86, 87, 

88,89,90,91,92. 
Benjamin Bemis, 1784, 85, 86. 
Oliver Watson, Jun. 1784, 86, 88, 

89. 
James Hathaway, 1785, 87. 
James Watson, 1785, 86, 89, 90, 91, 

92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 

1800, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 

07, 08. 
Luke Converse, 1787, 88. 
Benjamin Drury, 1788, 89, 90, 91, 

92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 

1800, 01, 02, 03. 
Jonas Muzzy, 1790, 91, 92, 93. 94, 

95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 1800, 01, 02, 

03,09,10, 11,12,13. 



152 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



Jonas Bemis, 1798, 99, 1800, 01, 

02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08. 
David Bemis, 1801,02, 03. 
Elliot Mason, 1804, 05, 06, 07. 
Moses Hall, 1804, 05. 
Nathan Crage, 1804, 06, 07, 08. 
Reuben Whittemore, 1806, 07, 08, 

09,10,13,14,15.16,17,18,19. 
Edmund Muzzy, 1808. 
Phinehas Jones, 1809, 10, 11,12, 

13, 15, 16. 
Alpheus Demond, 1809, 10, 11, 12. 
Joshua Bemis, 1809, 14, 16,, 17. 
Caleb Sibley, 1810,11. 
Isaac Jenks, Jun. 1811, 12, 13, 15, 

16, 17, 18, 19,20,21. 
David Livermore, Jun. 1812, 19. 
Thomas Sprague, 1813, 14, 15, 17, 

18, 20. 
William Bemis, 1814, 20,21,22, 

23, 24, 25, 30, 31. 
John Boyden, 1814, 15, 23. 
James Draper, 1816, 18, 19, 20, 21, 

22, 25, 26, 29, 38. 
Zorobabel Baldwin, 1817, 18. 
Daniel Hobbs, 1819. 
David Prouty, i820,.21, 22, 23, 24, 



25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. 
VVillard Rice, 1821, 22, 26, 27, 28, 

30, 32. 
Rufus Adams, 1822, 23, 24, 25, 28, 

29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. 
Elias Hall, 1823, 24, 25. 
Eli Proutyi 1824, 27, 28, 30, 37. 
Walton Livermore, 1826,27,28, 31- 
Jacob Wilson, 1820,27. 
Oliver Morse, 1827, 28, 29. 
Joel Wright, 1829. 
William Baldwin, 1829, 30, 31, 32, 

33, 34, 35, 39. 
Dennis Ward, 1831, 41. 
Augustus Rider, 1832. 
Josiah Green, 1832, 33, 34, 35. 
Thomas Pierce, 1833,34, 35, 36, 38. 
Walter Sibley, 1835, 36. 
Artemas Prouty, 1836, 37. 
Daniel Capen, 1837. 
John Howland, 1837. 
Eli Jones, 1838, 39, 40. 
Jonas Guilford, 1838. 
Jabez Green, 1838, 39, 40, 41. 
Eleazer B. Draper, 1839, 40, 41. 
Foster Bisco, 1839, 40, 41. 
JohnN. Prouty, 1840,41. 



ASSESSORS. 



John Worster, 1753, 55, 68, 69, 72. 
John Cunningham, 1753, 54. 
John Muzzy, 1753, 54, 55, 58, 59, 

64, 65, 66, 70. 
James Wilson, 1753. 
Benjamin Johnson, 1753, 54, 55. 
John White, 1754. 
Asa Baldwin, 1754, 56, 02, 66. 
Oliver Watson, 1755, 56, 57. GO, 61, 

62,63,64,65,66,67,71,78. 
John Newhall, 1755, 57. 



James Draper, 1756, 61, 62, 63, 67 

Samuel Garfield, Jun. 1757. 

Edmund Bemis, 1758, 59, 60, 61. 

James Ormes, 1758, 60. 

John Flagg, 1759. 

William Bemis, 1763, 64. 

Joshua Draper, 1765, 71. 

John Bisco, 1767, 68, 69, 70, 72, 
73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80, 90, 91, 
92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 
1800, 02. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



153 



David Lamb, 1768, 69. 
iJbenezer Mason^ 1770, 73, 74. 
William White, 1771, 73, 74, 75, 

76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, S4, 86. 
David Lamb, Jun. 1772. 
David Prouty, 1775, 76, 82, 83, 84j 

86, 87, 89, 95, 96, 97, 93, 99, 

1800, 01, 02, 03, 
John Cunningham, Jun. 1777^ 81. 
James Sprague, 1778, 88, 91. 
John Parker, 1779; 
William Frink, 1779. 
Elijah Howe, 1779. 
John Worster, 1780, 82. 
Thomas Sprague, 1781, 82, 83, 84, 

86, 97, 98, 99, 1800, 01, 02^ 03, 

04,05,06,07,08,16. 
John Sumner, 1785, 87, 88, 89, 90, 

94. 
Benjatain Bemis, 1785. 
John Muzzy, Jun. 1785. 
Robert Luther, 1787, 83,89,90,91. 

92, 93, 94. 
Isaac Jenks, 1792. 
Jonas Bemis, 1793, 1815. 
Zorobabel Baldwin, 1795, 96, ISlo, 

William Bemis, 180 J, 03, 04, 05, 



06,13, 21,22,27,31,32. 
James Draper, 1804, 05, 06, 07, 17, 

23, 24,25, 27, 28,29,30,31, 

32, 33,34,35,36,41. 
Frederick Howe, 1807, 08, 09, 10, 

11, 12,13, IG, 17, 18,19,20, 

21, 22, 26. 
Moses Hall, 1808, 09, 10, 14, 26. 
Silas Bemis. 1809, 13, 14. 
Elijah Howe, 1810, 11. 
Nathan N. Harding, ISll, 12. 
Rufus Adams, 1812, 15, 17, 18, 26. 
David Draper, 1814, 15, 18, 19. 
John Boyden, 1819, 20, 21, 23, 24, 

25. 
Jacob WilsoHj 1820, 23, 24, 25, 30 

32, 37. 
Walter Sibley, 1827, 28, 29, 31, 33, 

34, 35, 39, 40. 
Wm. Baldwin, 1828, 36, 37, 38, 41. 
Walton Livermore, 1829. 
Jonas Guilford, 1830. 
Jeremiah Grout, 1833,34, 35. 
Pliny Allen, 1836, 38, 39, 40. 
Daniel Capen, 1837. 
Dennis Ward, 1838. 
Lory Grout, 1839, 40. 
David Bemis, 1841- 



TOWN CLERKS. 



Benjamin Jdhnsonj 1753. Ebenezer Mason, 1779, 80, 83, 84, 

John Muzzy, 1754, 55, 56, 61, 62, 85. 

71, 72, 73, 74. Benjamin Bemis, 1781, 82, 86. 

Samuel Bemis, Jun., 1757, 58,59, Benjamin Drury, 1787, 88, 89, 90, 

91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 
99, 1800,01,02,03,04,05,06, 
07,08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 
16, 17, 18, 19. 
James Draper, 1813. 
David Draper, 1820, 21. 



60. 
James Draper, 1763,64, 65, 67,^68, 

69, 70. 
John Elliot, 1766. 
John Bisco, 1775, 76, 77. 
William White, 1778. 
20 



154 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



William Pope, 1822, 23, 24, 25, 26, Lewis Bemis, 1830, 31, 32, 33, 34, 
27, 28, 29. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41. 

TOWN TREASURERS. 



Benjamin Johnson, 1753, 54, 55, 56, 
Oliver Watson, 1757, 58,59, 60,61, 

62, 63,64,65, 66,67,68. 
John White, Jun. 1769, 70, 71, 75. 
David Lamb, 1772, 73, 74. 
John Muzzy, Jun. 1776, 77, 78, 79, 

80, 81, 82, 86, 87. 
John Bisco, 1783, 84, 85, 90,91, 92, 

93, 94, 95, 96,97, 98, 99, 1800, 

01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07. 
John Sumner, 1788, 89. 



William White, 1808, 09. 
Elliot Mason, 1810. 
Nathan Crage, 1811, 12, 13. 
James Draper, 1814, 15, 35, 36, 37, 

38, 39, 40, 41. 
Joseph Mason, 1816, 17, 18, 19, 20, 

21. 
Walton Livermore, 1822, 23, 24,25. 
Lewis Bemis, 1826, 27, 28, 29. 
William Pope, 1830. 
Eli Jones, 1831, 32, 33, 34. 



REPRESENTATIVES SINCE 1775. 



Oliver Watson, 1775, 76, 77, 80.» 

John Bisco, 1777,80,81. 

Not represented, 1778. 

John Muzzy, 1779. 

Isaac Jenks, 1782, 83, 84, 85. 

Not represented, 1786. 

James Hathaway, 1787, 88, 89, 90, 

91, 92, 93. 
Benjamin Drury, 1794,95,96,97, 

98, 99, 1800,01,02, 03, 04, 05, 

06, 07, 08, 09, 10. 
Jonas Muzzy, 1811, 12, 
Phinehas Jones, 1812. 



James Draper, 1813, 14, 15, 16, 17, 

18, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37. 
Not represented, 1819. 
William Bemis, 1820. 
Not represented, 1821. 

" " 1822. 

Rufus Adams, 1823, 29, 32. 
Not represented, 1824. 

" " 1825. 

« " 1826. 

William Pope, 1827. 
Walton Livermore, 1831.t 
David Prouty, 1833, 34. 



*The constitution went into operation between the summer and win- 
ter sessions of 1780. John Muzzy, was chosen in May 1780, and his 
office became extinct when the constitution commenced, and in October 
John Bisco was chosen until May 1781, when he was again re-elected 
to serve until the next annual election. 

+ 1831, the constitution was so altered, that the political year com- 
menced on the first Wednesday in January,.instead of the last Wednes- 
day in May, as formerly. Consequently, tlie offices of those representa- 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



155 



Lewis Bemig, 1834,35. 
Amos Brown, 1835. 
Dennis Ward, 183G, 37, 39. 



Walter Sibley, 1838. 

Eleazer B. Draper, 1839, 40, 41. 



VOTES FOR GOVERNOR SINCE 1780. 

The first column indicates the year, the second, the successful 
candidate, third, the number of votes he received, fourth, the 
opposition, or unsuccessful candidate, fifth, the number of votes 
he received. In some of the years, there were a few scattered 
votes, but not of sufficient importance to be noticed in this table. 



Date. 


Candidates. 


Votes. 


Candidates . 


Voles. 


1780 


J. Hancock 


69 


No opposition 




1781 


Hancock 


20 


T. Gushing 


9 


1782 


Hancock 


23 


Gushing 


38 


1783 


Hancock 


85 


No opposition 




1784 


Hancock 


48 


No opposition 




1785 


J. Bowdoin 




N. Gorham 


34 


1786 


Bowdoin 




Gorham 


41 


1787 


Hancock 


87 


Bowdoin 


7 


1788 


Hancock 


76 


E. Gerry 


7 


1789 


Hancock 


72 


J. Bowdoin 


1 


1790 


Hancock 


67 


No opposition 




1791 


Hancock 


71 


No opposition 




1792 


Hancock 


78 


S. Phillips 


2 


1793 


Hancock 


64 


No opposition 




1794 


S. Adams 


61 


No opposition 




1795 


S. Adams 


61 


No opposition 




1796 


S. Adams 


75 


J. Sumner 


7 


1797 


J. Sumner 


20 


M.Gill 
J. Sullivan 


522 
^21 


1798 


Sumner 


30 


J. Sullivan 


3 


1799 


Sumner 


43 


Wm. Heath 


23 


1800 


C. Strong 


8 


E. Gerry 


81 



tives chosen in May of that year, became vacated after the summer ses- 
sion of the legislature, and others were chosen on the second Monday 
in November following, whose term of service commenced the next 
January. It will be observed, therefore, that those representatives, in 
the table, designated for the years 1832, 1833, &c. were chosen Novem- 
ber, the preceding year. 



156 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 



Patei 


Candidates. 


Votes. 


Candidates. 


Votes. 


]801 


Strong 


64 


Gerry 


43 


1802 


Strong 


100 


Gerry 


23 


1803 


Strong 


85 


Gerry 


8 


1804 


Strong 


106 


Sullivan 


20 


1805 


Strong 


109 


Sullivan 


62 


1806 


Strong 


88 


Sullivan 


59 


1807 


Sullivan 


91 


Strong 


101 


1808 


Sullivan 


87 


C. Gore 


90 


1809 


C. Gore 


108 


L. Lincoln 


107 


1810 


E. Gerry 


125 


C. Gore 


110 


1811 


E. Gerry 


131 


C. Gore 


96 


1812 


C. Strong 


115 


E. Gerry 


130 


1813 


Strong 


124 


J. B. Varnunj 


118 


1814 


Strong 


132 


S. Dexter 


131 


1815 


Strong 


124 


Dexter 


124 


1816 


J. Brooks 


115 


Dexter 


J06 


1817 


Brooks 


113 


H. Deq.rborn 


95 


1818 


Brooks 


98 


B. Crowningshield 


78 


3819 


Brooks 


102 


Crowningshiejcl 


82 


1820 


Brooks 


85 


Wm. Eustig 


76 


1821 


Brooks 


97 


Eustis 


83 


1822 


Brooks 


101 


Eustis 


72 


1823 


Eustis 


105 


H. G. Otis 


101 


1824 


Eustis 


117 


S. Lathrop 


}33 


1825 


L. Lincoln 


73 


M. Morton 


80 


1826 


Lincoln 


31 


J. Loyd 


78 


1827 


Lincoln 


72 


W. C. J^rvis 


24 


1828 


Lincoln 


73 


M. Morton 


2 


1829 


Lincoln 


49 


'Morton 


18 


1830 


Lincoln 


90 


Morton 


58 


1831 


Lincoln 


90 


Morton 


37 


1832 


Lincoln* 


80 


Morton 


19 


1833 


L. Lincoln 


140 


Morton 


89 


1834 


J. Davis 


162 


Morton 


22 


1835 


J. Davis 


189 


Morton 


20 


1836 


E. Everett 


94 


Morton 


23 



*The political year having been altered in 1831, the votes indicated 
to have been given in 1832, and the years afterward, were in fact given 
in November, in ihe years previous. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 157 



Date. 


Candidates. 


Votes. 


Candidates. 


Votes. 


1837 


Everett 


147 


Morton 


38 


1838 


Everett 


164 


Morton 


41 


1839 


Everett 


152 


Morton 


102 


1840 


Morton 


1^7 


Everett 


ICO 


1841 


J. Davis 


196 
LAWYERS 


Morton 


115 



A spirit of litigation has never been one of the prominent 
characteristics of the good people of Spencer ; consequently, 
lawyers have found but a slender support, but few of the profes- 
sion have been induced to open an office here, and those staying 
but a short time. 

Bradford Sumner, came into the town in the winter of 1813, 
but receiving proposals from N. P. Denny, Esq., of Leicester, he 
staid here but a few weeks, and went into partnership with Mr. 
Denny. After continuing a few years in Leicester, he removed 
to the city of Boston, and still continues there, in successful prac- 
tice. 

John Davis, was born in Northborough, graduated at Yale 
College, 1812, studied law with Hon. Francis Blake, of Worces- 
ter, and established himself in this town in the latter part of 1815. 
While here, his business was considerable, and his amiable deport- 
ment and unassuming manners, won the confidence of the people. 
Mr. Blake, having been appointed clerk of the courts at Worces- 
ter, in the month of May, 1816, Mr. Davis removed to Worcester, 
and took Mr. Blake's office, where he soon became an eminent 
practitioner and successful advocate at the bar. In 1824, he was 
chosen representative to Congress, for Worcester South District, 
and continued to represent that district for ten years. In 1834, 
he was elected Governor of Massachusetts, and was again re- 
elected in 1835. The same year was elected Senator to Congress, 
which he continued to hold for six years. In 1841, he was 
again re-elected Governor of Massachusetts. He still resides in 
Worcester. 

William S. Andrews, was born in Boston, and graduated at 
Harvard University, 1812. He studied at the Law School in 



158 HISTOKY OF SPENCER. 

Litchfield, Conn, and with Hon. Francis Blake. He opened an 
office in Spencer, 1816, soon after the removal of Mr. Davis. He 
continued here until the summer of 1817, when he went to the 
state of Maine, and afterwards practised in Worcester. He now 
resides in Boston. 

Daniel Knight, was born in Worcester, and graduated at Brown 
University, 1813. He studied law with Governor Lincoln in 
Worcester, and commenced the practice of law in Spencer, 1817. 
He continued here until 1820, when he took a journey to 
South Carolina, for the restoration of his health, but with partial 
success. He removed to Leicester, and opened an office there. 
After lingering for five or six years, part of which time he was 
able to attend to business, he died at Leicester, August 16, 
1826. 

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS. 

The following are the names of some of the soldiers in the 

Revolutionary War, originally from this town, who have since 
received pensions from government, either personally or by their 
widows. 

Jesse Bemis Levi Baldwin 

Amasa Bemis Timothy Capen 

Jonas Bemis ^ Abijah Capen 

John Bigelow James Capen 

James Bigelow Gershom Comins 

Samuel Baldwin Simeon Draper 

Samuel Garfield Johnson Prouty 

Joseph Garfield Joshua Prouty 

Samuel Guilford Eli Prouty 

Jesse Graham Elijah Prouty 

Benjamin Hager Shadrach Peirce 

Levi Hathaway Caleb Segar 

Joel Howe Benjamin Sumner 

* Jonas Bernis, Esq., now more than eighty years of age, ivas a ser- 
geant in the revolution, and served during the war, and receives a pen- 
sion of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum. 



HISTORY OF SPENCER. 159 

Nathaniel Lamb James Watson 

Andrew Morgan Thomas White 

Amos Munroe Thaddeus White 

Thomas Moor Sylvanus Gates 

Joseph Wheat. 

The following are the names of those revolutionary soldiers 
who went into the service from other towns, and being since res- 
idents here, have received their pensions, either personally, or by 
their widows. 

Elias Adams Alvan Howe 

Israel Allen Phinehas Jones 

Rufus Bacon Henry Rixford 

John Clark James Snow 

Nathan Crage Paul Wheelock 

Elisha Harrington Asa Humphrey. 






/c 



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